text:
Saturday, April 14, 2018
0 Comments:
creative home of tom leverett, cloudcroft, new mexico, usa
short stories!
e pluribus
be there or be
family weblogs
- jim leverett's photography
- needle on vinyl
- elias' youtube channel
- corey
- corey and tom's trueblue site
- j leigh d, my wife
- doctor pistachio, my daughter
- noah
- Justin's myspace
- throughthewebcam
- justin's blogs
- justin's audio blog
other favorites
- Read4fun
- 50265
- annecentral.blogspot
- chicana on the edge
- dadtalk
- empty bottle
- jackzen
- joi ito
- language log
- late bloomer in a small pond
- savor the southwest
- lazy gardener
- moleskinerie
- my heart's in accra
- parking lot
- postsecret
- robert l. peters
- sushicam
- wtf-shakespeare
- more
lighthouse tour
the purpose of this tour is to show you some cool things on weblogs. click on the lighthouse to get to another weblog. always scroll down the sidebar until you see this lighthouse, and you can continue going to cool weblogs that show some of the things i use weblogs for. eventually you will have the choice of returning here or going onto facebook. enjoy!
- parsley sagebrush myspace
- felix y los gatos
- afel bocoum jukebox
- klezmer mountain boys, my sister's band
- julie fowlis
- horo ghalleadh
- andrew calhoun
- matt yetter
- huun huur tu
- the HU
- harry manx
- cajun music
- folk alley
- jango
- rock
other links
log in
some o' mine
- tlevs press
- blatant self-promo
- cloudcroft
- folk tales
- folk tale index
- rearview mirror
- professional home
- parsley sagebrush
- tlevs press
- yeah write!
- pop art
- sharpen! (pop art)
- a href, link poetry
- e pluribus haiku
- quakersrock & plays
- boxcars on walnut
- land-a-linkin
- this is your brain
- where u at w/chat?
- africahub
- blogroll
noah's poetry
quotes to live by"it's better to be unable to remember, than unable to forget"
"if you want kindling, just axe"
"those who flunk history are bound to repeat it"
"there's more than one way to beat a dead horse..."
"life is pointless without geometry"
"mother earth is bipolar...maybe that explains everything..."
"follow the nurse's motto...stick softly, and carry a big speak..."
"life is a lesson in attachment(s)...especially if you have a mac and everyone else has a pc..."
"a lollipop is born every minute"
"you can eat your cake and wear it too"
"if the cake fits, wear it"
"a small town is full of three-year-olds who can count to a thousand, sixteen-year-olds who can't give you change for a dollar at the local Casey's, and adults who don't see the connection."
"if you love speed, drive fast...if you love power, drive fast...but if you love driving, what's the hurry?"
cartoon by leah kang
other folks' quotes to live by:if you come to a fork in the road, take it....-yogi berra
the cemetery is full of people who were irreplaceable...-(nyc) mayor bloomberg
learn the rules...then forget them...-basho
the reason nobody uses their turn signals in the midwest is that everyone knows where everyone is going...
in a small town, there isn't much to see, but what you hear makes up for it...-randy heuring
freedom of speech is the right to shout "theater!" in a crowded fire... -abbie hoffman
other family links
- Dad (he wrote the book)
- bruce, older brother
- margot, diva
- leverett genealogy
- wallace genealogy
- Shutdowns
- justin's xanga
- noey's facebook
family photos
- halfway to graceland
- write!
- what crash?
- thinking of you
- death & texans
- maxwell street
- abe
- just passing through
- land-a-linkin'
just passing through:
true stories from out there
- rattler's welcome, northern mexico
- salmon boat, ninilchik, alaska
- al-can highway, yukon territory
- canadian rockies train
- comm ave, boston
- cold day in new york
- eyes on the road- solon road, iowa
- not far from normal- illinois
- layover: ft. nelson, b.c.
- desert train, nevada to utah
- je me souviens, quebec
- long beach trail, vancouver island
- winnipeg in july
- culture rudder- mexico to florida
- one day in amish country, english river valley
- index to all
e pluribus haiku: the novel
About Me
- Name: tom
- Location: cloudcroft, new mexico, United States
Previous Posts
- unusually fried at the moment, as saturday morning...
- April rocks!
- the wind is howling out there and has been, so lon...
- april rocks kindle promotion details on my facebo...
- sorry to announce that my son has given up posting...
- i'll give you some idea of the frustrations of lif...
- saturday morning, and my week has just turned into...
- so to you puritan scholars out there, let me intro...

subset: commoncrawl


text:
Spending countless hours trapped in a cold, dimly lit basement -- that's what I remember about Christmas.
In fact, it's my favorite memory of Christmas. I don't remember gifts I gave or received (except for my pink Huffy bike in 1979), but I do remember making Christmas cookies with my mom, which we did together for 20 years. Each year, it was a massive project that began in the market, moved to the kitchen, and was completed in the basement.
After numerous trips to the grocery store to buy obscene amounts of flour, sugar, butter, eggs, and chocolate, we would bake for 4-5 days straight, making about 2,000 cookies (that is not hyperbole).
Everyone got a tray of our cookies, including the paper boy. It got to the point that people would make special requests of my mom: please put more biscotti or pignoli cookies on their tray.
My mom never complained; she had the patience of a saint. Even when I added baking soda instead of baking powder (which I did) or dropped eggs down the front of the refrigerator (did that too), she never yelled. She always said something like, "That's alright, honey. It can be cleaned up." Then we would start the recipe over again.
By day three we were dwarfed by stacks of cookies. By day four my mom would begin fretting: "How will we ever get them all done?" Somehow we always did.
After we finished whipping and rolling and sprinkling, we took the finished cookies into the basement and started an assembly line on our old air hockey table. I assembled the trays, mom wrapped them in cellophane, then we'd decorate them with ribbons and name tags.
We would laugh and sing Christmas carols along with Bing and Frank and Rosemary on the radio. We did this till our backs ached and our feet swelled, then we did it some more, fueled by eating the occasional defective pepper biscuit or fig bar that did not make the cut.
My mom still bakes Christmas cookies, but on a much smaller scale. She even FedExes our favorites to us when we can't make it home for Christmas.
My all-time favorite Christmas cookie is the chewy, gooey, chocolately, nutty Hello Dolly. They're ridiculously easy to make (about 10 minutes to assemble and 30 to bake) and guaranteed to please.
They are my first entry for Eat Christmas Cookies. You may submit as many holiday cookie recipes as you'd like by December 24th, (preferably before December 17th so others have a chance to make them).
Click here to see the delicious submissions and here for details on how to participate.
Since a decorative tin filled with Hello Dollies beats the heck out of a sweater, consider giving them for a holiday gift. I'm submitting this to Zlamushka's Spoonful of Christmas, a festive event that asks you to share edible holiday gifts.
Print recipe only here.
1/2 cup butter, melted
1 1/2 cups graham crackers (about 8 crackers), ground in a food processor
1 cup semi-sweet or bittersweet chocolate chips
1 cup sweetened shredded coconut
1 cup coarsely chopped walnuts (or pecans)
1 14-ounce can sweetened condensed milk
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F or 325 degrees F if you're using a glass baking dish.
Melt butter in a small saucepan on the stove top.
Place graham crackers in a processor and pulse until they become crumbly. Combine them with the melted butter and place in an 8 X 8 baking dish, patting the crumb mixture down evenly with your hands. Layer the chocolate chips, coconut, and nuts on top of the graham cracker mix. Pour the sweetened condensed milk evenly over the entire mixture.
Bake for 25-30 minutes, or until the top is light brown.
Let cool completely before slicing.
Note: To make slicing the cookies easier, put the cooled baking dish into the refrigerator until slightly chilled. (Thanks, Mom!) Cut into bars or small squares (having a ruler isn't a bad idea). For Christmas trays, my mom places them in those miniature tinfoil coated cookie wrappers--they look festive and won't stick together that way.
Hello Dolly cookie bars are wonderfully versatile. Here are some delicious examples:
Valentina's recipe features a custard.
Lisa's includes cinnamon graham crackers and pecans.
Deb's recipe includes butterscotch chips.
By the way, if you haven't seen them yet, check out the editors' favorite holiday cookie recipes at epicurious.com. Just seeing those gorgeous pictures gets me in the mood to bake!
Save This Page on Del.icio.us


text:
i lied, anon pointed me to this. read it, read the post below it. if you are an xkcd apologist: go! explain how this is not the same!
"[a] vitriolic and bitter collection of unwarranted nastiness about a silly and harmless comic."
I too thought it was awesome.
I can't tell whether the people on the xkcd forums are being sarcastic or not.
"Clever connection, I must say."
"Anyways, I like all the random connections Randall's been making lately. Well, actually only the last 2 were like that, so I hope the next one is too!"
I dunno, this seems like the same kind of joke as the previous one. Of COURSE that's not what happened (or in the previous comic's case, of COURSE it'll never work), but the silliness is the joke. I guess I'm stupid.ReplyDelete
Guys. both uses of rings indicate possession. He's making a joke about marriage. That's pretty clever. And well executed.ReplyDelete
I didn't see that. Kudos, Giant Squid.ReplyDelete
It is a reference to something nerds enjoy, therefore it must be awesome!ReplyDelete
Target audience, though. And as GS pointed out, it's not JUST a reference. It's an onion.ReplyDelete
When did this become a comic where Sauron can just show up and talk to one of the (poorly) established recurring chracters?
Also, the art for Sauron is bad. Really bad. Which is saying a lot when you do stick figures.
I feel that you're missing the point of this. It's comparing marriage to what Sauron was doing.
I thought it was clever.
I don't hate the joke, though. I didn't laugh at it... but in this case it is due to me and not the comic. The alt text ruins it by explaining the joke though. It as if Randall is afraid that someone might not get it, might miss the chance to praise him for this insight of his.
Nonetheless, it's a step up.
Yeah, Giant Squid is right. Its not like he used "ring around the rosies."
@Ken - I'm not sure I get it. I'm not sure how you read these comics, but I tend to look at the alt-text after I read the comic. So, if the comic is going to make me laugh, it will do so before the alt-text can ruin the comic but assuming the readers are complete idiots (as in this case).
I'll give a pass on the joke for this one (even if the execution is so bad that Randall feels the need to explain his joke in the alt-text),
but this art is fucking horrible.
i actually don't particularly care for lord of the rings. i can only assume that for those people who do like it, there was a tremendous rush of excitement when you realized that there's one more member of that tiny, struggling group of middle-earth aficionados; it must be a delight to receive confirmation that there are others who enjoy such an obscure and geeky corpus to the extent you do.ReplyDelete
You misunderstand. I read the comic first, and got it, but didn't laugh because I don't care about Sauron. Still, I gave Randall credit for expressing his idea well, and with sufficient subtlety.
After that, I read the alt text. It caused Randall to lose the credit he had gained.
Are you serious? You're being frig' lazy! I think I'm gonna call you Mr. Lazy Mclazison, you little turkey!
. . .
Okay seriously, something this bad deserves a review from you. COME ON CARL! COME ON!
ALSO - I think xkcd is in for another significant downshift in quality. This is based off of this comic, the seismograph one, and the R2D2 one.
That is all.
landon: sometimes terrible comics just don't deserve more.
Femaleloth: You are going to love how much worse this is than you think. It's not just some LotR joke for LotR fans, it's actually really fucking obscure references to stuff that happens waaaaaay before the books - ask anyone who only saw the movies or maybe 80% of the people who read the books why this comic is funny, and they will not be able to give you a cogent answer. Try it, for real. tell me what happens.
well ho-ly crap, anon. guess i will have to apend that post after allReplyDelete
Nice going Randall, Eru didn't even create the Dwarves, that would be Aule. Someone did not do the research...ReplyDelete
@Ken - apologies for the misunderstanding.
@Femalehoth - One thing to point out - just because there is a reference to something nerdy doesn't mean that its just fan service. Here's how you can tell the difference: If the reference could easily be replaced without ruining the "joke" its fan service. If the reference is vital to the joke, its more than fan service (though, admittedly, it may ALSO be fan service, but not nearly as bad).
In this case, the LOTR reference is *critical* to the joke.
I agree. Lame and overused joke here. But then, LotR is way overplayed, in general. It was a pedantic and poorly written set of books (by Tolkein's own admission) and has long outlived its value to the literary world.
Any joke which keeps that steaming pile in the forefront of public consciousness should be immediately censored and its author hung.
And on the next XKCD, the kids from the Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe turned out to have gotten the whole idea from that R. Kelly song about closets.ReplyDelete
The alt-text is scary because Randall either is trying to say something humorous and completely missing its total relevance to him, or knows that that's exactly how he thinks and is just resigned to it. Either way, it took what make have almost been a funny comic and just sent it down the drain.ReplyDelete
@Eagle: Now that's an idea that's actually funny. I don't know if it would work in a closet, but I'd like to see Weird Al or someone put Narnia into a Trapped in the Closet-type music video (except Weird Al already did a Trapped in the Closet parody, oh well).
@Giant Squid: That adds another layer to the joke, but unfortunately it seems to be an "emo relationships" layer. This is actually quite disturbing, as it suggests a convergence between all of the bad XKCD tropes. The next comic could involve gratuitous stick figure sex between two quirky people that ends in despair for a reason that only major Tolkien fans will understand.
Anyway, this comic was annoying because it starts out with all sorts of obscure references that would require a thorough study of the books to get and ends with a lame ring pun that anyone could make if they even half-paid attention to the first hour of The Fellowship of the Ring.
The joke was obvious from the first panel. I kept reading, hoping for some clever twist, but no. And the alt-text was the kicker in this shitfest of a comic.
Well, at least it makes for a decent goatkcd (the Ring! Geddit?)
711 and 712 are the lowest, saddest shit in webcomic history. I feel ashamed just by having read them.
Please, make it stop. Its gross awful.
So I opened xkcd today, and saw the title of the comic, Single Ladies. That was the first bad sign.
Then I noticed the...thing in the comic. That was the second bad sign.
Then I noticed Beret Guy in the first panel (along with realizing the thing was supposed to be Sauron) with his usual recurring character trait of having no defined character traits.
All that and the joke sucked too. Plus apparently it's supposed to be "Lindon" even though the comic CLEARLY says "Undon." But it's LotR, and the fans love LotR, so unsuprisingly it is "the best comic recently." Although at this point a blank panel would be a better comic than most of the recent ones.
On another note, someone on the forums says an episode of Big Bang Theory did this joke on Monday. I hate that show so I wouldn't know, but can anyone verify this? Because between this, the sex dice, and the seismograph comics it's like Randall isn't even trying to hide the fact that he just throws together a comic based on what he's seen on TV since the last time he did a comic.
What? How can you people not hate this comic? All there is, is that these two things two things both have the word "ring" in them. If he wanted to make a comment about marriage, he should have made that somehow. Instead it's just Sauron being inspired by the word "ring". Also, he didn't really "put a ring on it", he made a ring for himself, to control them.ReplyDelete
The setting for the comic takes place before LoTR, during events in The Silmarillion. If I remember correctly (and it's been like 7 or 8 years), Sauron would have been using his deceptively charming appearance, not his super death knight one.
So I'm confused here. There's a fairly narrow niche of nerds like me who know the events described in the comic (seeing as they weren't in LoTR), so I can only imagine that he pulled the setting for the comic out of his ass as an excuse to make his ever hilaaaaarious "combining two unlike things" joke.
The best moment of the Big Bang Theory makes the worst moment of xkcd seem better than falling in love. It's one of the few things left that can actually corrupt xkcd and make it fall further. Please say it isn't so.
The only thing worse than the Big Bang Theory is the Silmarillion. All the fun of a dry history textbook combined with all the wit of a dry history textbook.
Not gonna lie, I really liked this comic.
Yes, ring is used in both. But the metaphor works for the entire phrase, "if you like it then you should have put a ring on it" so it's not just a stupid correlation.
Also these two things juxtaposed are funny! The big bad of the lotr epic taking advice from a pop song about single ladies. There is humor there - it's not just two random things.
The comic is overall MEH. I see the joke, it's not all that funny(mariage/One Ring joke, Randall? What's going on on your life, I wonder?), overlapping LotR and Beyonce is just... creepy.
Jp: he did the One Ring to control the other rings. "One Ring to rule them all" and all that. I'm quite rusty on my Middle-Earth mythos, but I'm pretty sure the people he mentioned in the first panel had their rings on them.
I just don't understand why he'd bother to do the last two panels. Stop the lyrics on 'all the single ladies...' then have sauron saying something contrived like "I'll never have control over middle earth..."
Even if this was randomly individually made, he should now remove it as it's already been done by others. That would be really awesome of him.
Since the apologists haven't taken up the challenge yet, I'll try and explain how the Gollum version of this comic is not the same:
It was a LOT better.
3:24 - Stuff like this is always shit. I've had it happen to me but taking it down really isn't an adequate solution as it's an implied admission of guilt for something that you didn't actively intend to do. My personal strategy would be acknowledging it, but keeping the comic up. I.e. having a note that you found out someone had done it. This assumes Randall by now knows about the joke being done before, and I don't think such a note is necessary if it's a coincidence rather than a subconscious thing (i.e. you've seen the episode, forgot about it and thought you had come up with it yourself).
This is one particular thing I don't shun him for, though. It happens to everyone if they just keep doing comics long enough.
I've seen the LOTR movis.
I don't understand - why does Randal think people who read LOTR will also recognize a song by Beyonce?ReplyDelete
I didn't even bother clicking on the link to the comic, since Randall, talentless hack that he is, simply ripped off the joke from someone else. Goddamn that man makes me want to stab a small child in the face. IN THE FACE. That's how angry I am.ReplyDelete
Comic unfunny. Comparison between rings of power binding people and engagement rings made me smirk.ReplyDelete
I had to read the comments to figure out that this comic takes place BEFORE the LOTR, because the contemporary music makes me think it happened AFTER. Also, Sauron would be glum AFTER LOTR because his ring would have been destroyed, so I experienced dissonance in his reaction in the fourth panel.
Also, #711 sucked because (a) it wasn't funny, and (b) it made no Slurpie joke.
I'm not an apologist by any stretch (I found the God/R2D2 comic not at all funny and found the 11th grade chart comic almost as stupid as those on this blog do), but I will take a stab at why this comic is different from the Gollum comic.
To Sauron the ring as a source of power, a way to manipulate and control the world. A woman (or man) in a certain type of relationship can also be trying to manipulate and gain power, especially if she's following a "The Rules" style playbook to try to "trick" a man into marriage. If you replace Sauron with Gollum this subtext disappears, or is at least changed to one about obsession rather than manipulation.
If one isn't careful, this kind of thing can come across as misogynistic. That would be my tentative complaint about this comic, being admittedly unfamiliar with half of the source material.
I saw the first panel and expected the joke to be "lol beyonce is evil"
And now I kinda wish it had been.
get it because evil cannot create, it can only deface and corrupt
just like beyonce lol
Don't say subtext. This comic doesn't deserve a smart word like subtext. Tolkien was drawing no parallels to marriage when he had Sauron create the rings in his convoluted pre-LOTR mythology. Sauron didn't covet anyone, he just wanted power. Beyonce wasn't thinking of her lover binding her into a dark and twisted world, she was saying don't expect single ladies to be exclusive for your cheap no commitment ass.
The best xkcd is doing in the comic itself is implying that marriage is about control. Alt-tex != subtext.
"sometimes terrible comics just don't deserve more."
It's terrible comics like this and 631 that deserve the most written about them, isn't it?
Oh, and FemaleThoth said, "i actually don't particularly care for lord of the rings. i can only assume that for those people who do like it, there was a tremendous rush of excitement when you realized that there's one more member of that tiny, struggling group of middle-earth aficionados; it must be a delight to receive confirmation that there are others who enjoy such an obscure and geeky corpus to the extent you do."
There are legitimate arguments to be made for or against the Lord of the Rings trilogy from an artistic point of view, but to refer to it as "obscure and geeky" shows you to be willfully ignorant and name-calling for its own sake. The fact is that the Lord of the Rings books have sold tens of millions of copies, been widely translated, adapted into some commercially successful films, and have left broad footprints on the fantasy genre overall. Whatever one feels about the books, I find them very instructive to read for anyone with interest in the fantasy genre in the same way that the Sherlock Holmes books, for example, are interesting as forerunners of the modern mystery.
I don't think I'm going to keep this up ever so much longer, but this one is just more weather talk. Maybe if you're not English, rambling about the weather is a new and exciting concept. Who knows. Dashed if I do.
Too much block caps in this one as well, almost as a substitute for having anything really to say. Ryan, you need to get back on Wikipedia and find another 17th century sailor to introduce us to.
Also: Maybe not the orange one, but T Rex and the bendy neck one definitely do talk the same, and so do God and Batman (not featured here).
two differences with the gollum comic: As pointed out earlier, the gollum comic isn't making a comment about marriage, this one is. As a corollary, gollum singing "if you liked it then you should have put a ring on it" makes no sense at all; what was it that gollum liked that he should have put a ring on? He liked the ring!
Second, the joke with the gollum comic was somehow a joke about Beyonce translating to gollum in the minds of nerds, something which makes no sense at all. This was missing from xkcd.
In sum, the gollum comic had a completely different point than the xkcd and was so truly awful that it makes me weep with anger. If Randall actually ripped that off, I have no respect for him, not because of the dishonesty but because he reads that shit.
"I feel that you're missing the point of this. It's comparing marriage to what Sauron was doing."
So, the joke is that marriage is oppressive and binding? Why, that is a fresh and original piece of humor! Perhaps Randall will favor us with a joke about airline peanuts next. I have often wondered what the deal with them is.
"T Rex and the bendy neck one definitely do talk the same,"
Eh? If Dromiceiomimus talks more like Utahraptor than T-Rex.
Just as an aside, I find it amusing how the intellectual value of critisism is one of the rationale's for this blog, yet we end up with posts like this one, in which Carl simply states that he hates it.
Perhaps someone needs to start an "XKCDSucksSucks" blog.
You must not have noticed, but most of the criticism occurs in the comments to the entries.ReplyDelete
Also, an 'XKCDSucksSucks' blog already exists. Naturally, it's a piece of junk - that's what happens when you try to take us on - your world gets fucked up. Or, at least nobody visits your site. Either way.ReplyDelete
Number of xkcdsuckssucks blogs: 11
Number of xkcd fans expressing the idea to start an xkcdsuckssucks blog, believing it to be an original idea: 4,421
So let me get this straight guys: this comic is trying to be extra nerdy by dealing with the pre-LotR mythology, but then it gets its facts wrong (good eyes, Jacob, Nate, King Neckbeard)?
That's very funny.
But Randy really needs to do more research when he's looking for material, not just a quick "how can I make this nerdier than just straight-up LotR?". Because look at what he's used for material recently: Beyonce; Earthquakes (considering what's been in the news?); Star Wars; DnD; Die Hard...that's pretty weak.
It's very glib.
Here, Randy, this is how you could do it ok?: First right, fine, you got your LotR joke. Ok, step one done. Now do some proper research, maybe check out the roots of the 'ring' idea. Oh it comes from Norse mythology. Oh Wagner wrote an opera based on stories from Norse mythology, involving elements of that ring story. Oh Wagner had a troubled marriage.
Now instead of a tired 'nerd' joke, you've got the material for something different, interesting, funny.
Awesome, and not that hard.
There are legitimate arguments to be made for or against the Lord of the Rings trilogy from an artistic point of view, but to refer to it as "obscure and geeky" shows you to be willfully ignorant and name-calling for its own sake. The fact is that the Lord of the Rings books have sold tens of millions of copies, been widely translated, adapted into some commercially successful films, and have left broad footprints on the fantasy genre overall.
I could totally forgive the attempt to contrast Lord of the Rings with this pop song that no one will even remember in a few years. I think it has potential for humor even if it has been done before. However, there doesn't appear to be any joke in 712. There's a joke in the alt-text but it's not very funny or original and it's horribly delivered.
I think this is a perfect example of how you can have an idea that seems to have potential for humor but you shouldn't actually publish it until you find a way to deliver it.
Randay - WHY IS BARRET GUY IN THIS COMIC!? What is his character supposed to be?! You use FUCKING STICK FIGURES for characters randal. Why did you use one of your extremely few recognizable characters in a way that doesn't build the character up at all and actually screws him up more? How old is this guy supposed to be? Have you even picked an age? Why is he in a bar? He acts like he's a kid most of the time. Stop screwing up your own characters! Just use a damn generic stick figure when you just need a generic character. Unlike some other comic strips you have infinity generic characters available to say generic things without ever having to worry about character integrity and you don't even have to draw them yet you STILL screw it up. Jesus Fucking Christ what is wrong with you???
HEY CARL CAN YOU DO A GUEST POST ON MY BLOG I WILL DO ONE ON YOURSReplyDelete
I don't know who these losers are saying that Randall was making an observation or comment or joke about marriage. I wouldn't give Randall credit for being that clever.
I think he simply realised that LotR and Single Ladies both have references to a ring. End of story.
hey guys I just checked, and the last time xkcd fans vandalized wikipedia was for the collatz conjecture comic. LoTR, seismograph, polygraph, lie detector test and sauronReplyDelete
remain unalteredReplyDelete
My head hurts. Is Czhorat incredibly clueless, or is it just a parody of an incredibly clueless person (in which case, I'm kind of clueless myself for not immediately being sure that it's a parody).
LoTR is actually popular? Somebody should start a XKCDsuckssucks blog? Profound.
Sorry if my points were lost on you. I'll need to remember to use smaller words and simpler sentence structure for this audience. The comment about LoTR's popularity was a direct response to FemaleThoth, who said the following:
"i can only assume that for those people who do like it, there was a tremendous rush of excitement when you realized that there's one more member of that tiny, struggling group of middle-earth aficionados; it must be a delight to receive confirmation that there are others who enjoy such an obscure and geeky corpus to the extent you do."
The comment about LoTR's popularity was an admittedly clumsilly faux-pedantic tongue-in-cheek way of pointing out the difference between legitimate critique and making insulting noises without really understanding or caring what they mean. To work an actual critique of LoTR into ones response would be clever; to make fun of its fans for being part of a super-obscure subculture is just silly and a bit juvenile.
For the record, I wasn't literally advocating an "XKCDSucksSucks" blog; just pointing out that, for someone SO critical of what he sees as Randall Munroe's laziness and sloppy writing, Carl can be a remarkably lazy and sloppy thinker.
"I'll need to remember to use smaller words and simpler sentence structure for this audience."
Do you know what 'sarcasm' means?
They got to the page about the song: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Single_Ladies_(Put_a_Ring_on_It)&diff=348946892&oldid=347841665
It only took them 4 hours 21 minutes after the comic was posted to start vandalizing this time.
I'll need to remember to use smaller words and simpler sentence structure for Czhorat, because he's remarkably oblivious.ReplyDelete
R: I can't resist responding despite assuming that you're being sarcastic:
Of course he knows what sarcasm means. He's BEING sarcastic. He's DRIPPING with it. But he responded in defense of his point, which was the target of an actual attack, not a sarcastic one. Not that he did it more nicely or with more justification than Sepia did.
"just pointing out that, for someone SO critical of what he sees as Randall Munroe's laziness and sloppy writing, Carl can be a remarkably lazy and sloppy thinker."
You're saying that in order for carl to call someone lazy... he himself can't be lazy? I don't think I follow here. It seems to me that someone who is himself lazy would be more familiar with it, and more adequately be able to point it out to others.
Additionally... Carl doesn't make a living off this blog. Example: When I go to work, it is my job to not be lazy, and to put in hard work. That is what I am paid for. When I go home and post comments on blogs... I am being lazy and not doing more productive things, like cleaning my damn kitchen. When Randall goes to write a comic, he is going to work, in the sense that it is his comic that puts food on his table. Being lazy there is BAD. When carl writes his blog, he is doing so instead of doing things like cleaning his damn kitchen. Being lazy here is EXPECTED. See the difference?
@Carl: "if you are an xkcd apologist: go! explain how this is not the same!"
As someone who has been called an XKCD apologist... I feel obligated to respond to this.
In two words: I agree. Pretty much the same comic. I see 3 possibilities here.
1. He never read that comic, and it's a coicedence.
2. He read the comic, and he plagerized it out and out.
3. He read the comic when it was released, forgot that he read it and when he had the idea, couldn't recall if it was his or if he had seen it somewhere, so he went with it. (Not unlike the Google Maps thing where PA did it first)
I subscribe to the 3rd theory. I highly doubt anything malicious was going on here. But it would certainly support your argument that Randall is out of original ideas of his own... which I now agree with. I also agree that your idea of a Picto Blog is probably the best way for Randall to go.
I don't share everyone on here's opinion that Randall is a talentless hack. I think he CAN be funny, and that he DOES have some pretty clever ideas... just that they have become few and far between, and that his stupid 3 comics a week schedule doesn't give him the time he needs to flesh out said ideas, meaning even his good ideas are lost in a sea of mediocrity. I have officially been convinced (brainwashed) by this blog. And will begin spreading the word of Carl to all my XKCD loving friends.
Anon 11:47 AM:
Have you not heard of the concept "Death of the Author"? (http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/DeathOfTheAuthor) Basically, it says that the author's interpretation of his or her own work is no more valid than anyone else's interpretation. It doesn't matter whether Randall INTENDED to comment about marriage; his comic DID make such a comment.
I didn't think the comic was too bad.
better than usual
Pretty high-and-mighty for someone who can't spell clumsily correctly.
Guys, I think XKCD explained showed it pretty well: http://xkcdexplained.com/post/438514427/single-ladiesReplyDelete
"Thus, the Author humorously reveals the image he holds of himself as a lonely, mask wearing embodiment of evil plotting the enslavement of the beautiful creatures of the world who he views as his betters"
Oh shit, Randall is coming HERE?
Randall plagiarizes most of his comics!
Anthony Clark from Nedroid did a side by side comparison of the worst rip offs here:
i've kind of become desensitised to shock images
nice try though
Next comic: a crazy, wild-eyed old man who claims to be a scientist sits at his local 1950's bar in Hill Valley, depressed about how his work isn't going anywhere. Then suddenly, somebody walks up to the jukebox and plays R. Kelly's If I Could Turn Back The Hands Of Time.
1) I've already said, I think it's funny
2) I don't think the joke is marriage. The joke is that the lyrics of the song, which are meant to be a lighthearted girl-power message, are taken literally by Sauron and lead to his first(?) coming to power.
3) I'm not familiar with the mythology pre-movies. But didn't Sauron GIVE the rings to the races he wish he had made, in an effort to control them? It's not just about the ONE RING, it's about the 9 rings that corrupted the nazgul, etc, etc.
"If you like it" (it being the beautiful races of elves, dwarfs, whatevers) "then you should have put a ring on it" (Sauron interprets the lyrics as creating rings of power through which he can control the leaders of each race).
3) the joke in the last panel is that he comes up with the idea to use the rings (there is a little poppy bubble thing over his head).
Again, I like the joke. Although if it's plagiarized, I would be unsurprised because I think it's better than his usual work.
Meh, this blog post sucked.
Carl's trolling is weak, it's time for him to be replaced.
mmmmm, orange juice!ReplyDelete
I can't believe he'd use such blatant rip-offs!
I signed.
I always found the Lord of the Rings to be a poorly-written mess. The writing doesn't evoke any sense other than a kind of detached, measured plod through the story. I have not read any of his non LOTR works, but judging by those, Tolkien was just... not that good a writer (beatings will ensue after I make this post, I know it). I will give him credit for one thing; the man was a hell of a world-builder. The entire history of middle-earth is actually really interesting in theory (and the films I think translated that as well while actually giving the story some pacing and emotion), it's just a shame it wasn't brought to the reader by a better medium than Tolkien.ReplyDelete
"I'm not familiar with the mythology pre-movies"
Please tell me you're joking. Or made a typo.
Veslfen: The Hobbit was a much easier and enjoyable read I find. Maybe give that a try if you're in the mood.ReplyDelete
LOTR was a definitely a difficult read for anyone lacking English skills.
It was more challenging that many of the mainstream books written at the level of 5th graders so it certainly isn't for everyone.
Rinnon: I've read the Hobbit (and enjoyed it), but AFAIK it's not considered part of the Trilogy, correct? I also read one of the many history books (I know it wasn't the Silmarillion, but I can't remember the title offhand) and found it so incredibly boring I quit halfway through.
Also, Anon 3:17- nice job failing at reading what I said. My bone to pick isn't the *clarity* of his writing, it's the *spirit* of it. Everything is presented in the same dull, plodding fashion- from Pippin staring into the crystal ball when he shouldn't (the name of those things escapes me) to the Ents destroying Isengard to Gandalf standing against the Balrog, there's no change in tempo or style or anything. Scenes that could (and SHOULD) be vibrant and colorful and memorable and exciting get the same spirited treatment one would use to describe a half-melted stick of butter.
Dinosaur Comics Sucks: Wow. That really was out of character.ReplyDelete
I had no problem seeing vivid images of the descriptions in LOTR and picking up on the changes in pacing.
Veslfen reading LOTR is like trying to play Modern Warfare 2 on a 386. Brain upgrade needed.
Everyone, Carl is really Randall!!! He just set up this site to stir up controversy and get more readers!
You're all being trolled!
except there is UNDENIABLE PROOF that carl is not randall
See? Case closed
( from http://xkcdsucks.blogspot.com/2009/07/comic-610-independence.html )
Beyonce is much better than Tolkein, FACT. The comic offends me by comparing the two.ReplyDelete
lol goatse.cxReplyDelete
Well, Beyonce's boobs are betterReplyDelete
Why do people say that image is proof? That would be easy as hell to fake.
That kind of lame attempt at proof makes me think that Carl might actually be Randall.
@Veslfen: That's correct. Hobbit is not a part of the trilogy. I wasn't suggesting you read it in defense of LOTR, more in defense of Tolkien as a writer. Fact is, Hobbit was written after LOTR, which I think shows that Tolkien did improve as a writer. I find Hobbit, while a little bit less heavy, was a more entertaining and more complete story. Pacing wasn't as rough, and the language wasn't as boring in some parts.ReplyDelete
hobbit came first dudeReplyDelete
GUYS what we are forgetting is that LOTR is a decent-to-good CHILDRENS STORY.ReplyDelete
Even though we aren't really because children deserve good things too.ReplyDelete
You win this round Rob. But I'll be back! To provide FURTHER misinformation to unsuspecting readers!
You are of course correct. I had been living my life under the misconception that the Hobbit was written as a prequel to LOTR. I just looked it up, and you're right. Thank you for pointing that out to me.
I suppose that completely invalidates my point as well.
I don't know if I buy the argument that LOTR is a kids book. I mean, the reading level is around grade 7 to 9 isn't it? I don't know if I call that a kids book personally, but that's just me.
+10 points to Randall for semi-decent dialogue
+5 for no PPD
-50 points for spelling out the joke in the alt text
Carl's been sucking latelyReplyDelete
I disagree. I think today's dinosaur comics somewhat redeems yesterdays. This comic thread wasn't really about bike rides and ice cream rocking our socks off. It is about the perennial debate over whether nice weather needs to be tempered with bad weather to maximize the hedonistic integral.
I, having moved to the coast to escape the bitter cold of winter, would tend to agree with T-Rex that a requirement for cyclical seasons is just a way for those who deal with extreme weather to justify their miserable choice of residence. Regardless of your view, however, we can all agree that bike and ice cream rock!
I haven't read a posthumously published LoTR prequel.
I don't recognize songs by Beyonce.
This must mean that I am not in xkcd's target audience, but in this case I am pretty sure that is a good thing.
BUT WHO WILL WATCH THE WATCHMEN THEMSELVES?ReplyDelete
I didn't like the comic, but my response to your alleged joke thievery is this:
@FemaleHoth - You made one comment, and have received a few criticisms. So far your response to these criticisms has been horrendous. Care to actually respond to them?ReplyDelete
haha. haReplyDelete
Holy shit. This comic occurs BEFORE LotR.
I JUST got that.
I really don't see what that screenshot is trying to prove - any monkey could sit at a computer and count numbers while signed in as Carl. Not that I think Carl and Randall are the same person, mind you. I just think that's a really crap attempt at proving it.ReplyDelete
I've spoken to randall. I said "Hey Carl" and he said "Hi". What more proof do you need?ReplyDelete
Aaargh. Ooh. The alt text admits that the starting premise for this comic doesn't even work, so the whole thing makes no sense from the get-go. Does that matter? Well, I imagine it would matter to Carl if XKCD did it.
"How is this even close to a good idea?" asks the orange dino. Good question my smart-alec friend, and the answer is: it isn't one. However, instead of coming up with another, better idea, Dinosaur Comics presses on with the rubbish idea and tries to make the fact that it's rubbish be the point of the comic. This is the same strategy used 100% of the time by all T4 presenters and presenteresses (shame they have no presenterkapows) and it has become very tired.
Maybe they don't get T4 in Canada. I know Canada is a utopia but I find it hard to believe that the smug-presenter-with-knowingly-bad-link-wink-wink-ho-ho is a completely unknown phenomenon over there.
geeze guys if it pisses you off so much than JUST DON'T READ IT!ReplyDelete
Okay. Stop quoting it all over the Internet and ruining my culture, you fuck.ReplyDelete
@Anon 6:05: You know, you're actually the first person to come to this site and suggest that. You.... you are right, I'm going to just stop reading xkcd and live a satisfying, long life.ReplyDelete
@FemaleHoth - You made one comment, and have received a few criticisms. So far your response to these criticisms has been horrendous. Care to actually respond to them
Everyone's response to my comment has been equally horrendous. I have no desire to respond to retards.
New chainsawsuit made me smile
So today's chainsawsuit - pretty much a direct jab at XKCD.
Oh, and to the anon who keeps posting the Tubgirl - what are you, 13 years old (don't answer that, it's rhetorical)? This ain't Youtube, we're not retarded.
Goddamnit Fem, ya beat be to the punch!ReplyDelete
Hey guys, is the irc channel still alive?ReplyDelete
Wow, the Sauron art in this comic is hideous.ReplyDelete
you mean #xkcd-sucks ? yeahReplyDelete
Ha ha ha, this entire site revolves around a comic aimed at nerds. What level of loser do you have to be to make something like that?ReplyDelete
Dry those tears, man
You're a liar. You SHOULD just stop reading something you don't like and go live your life like a normal person but INSTEAD you're going to endlessly obsess about it like all the other losers here.
kinda like how you didn't read this blogReplyDelete
anon, i know you're probably bawwing your eyes out right now because someone insulted your god, but think before you postReplyDelete
what the fuck is T4?ReplyDelete
Oooh, R sounds SENSITIVE. You must be mad that someone's laughing at you right now.
I like reading this blog. I don't get to laugh at so many dorks at once in the real world. Normally, gatherings like this only happen at comic book conventions.
What's so funny is that xkcd is totally nerdy but you guys are even worse! Ha ha ha
I like reading XKCD. I don't get to laugh at such a terrible writer anywhere in the real world. Normally, you can only find such terrible writing in an intro-level creative writing course.
What's so funny is that xkcd is totally clueless but you cuddlefish are even worse! Ha ha ha
People like Rob and Carl are the funniest. What level of loser do you have to be to actually obsess about a stupid webcomic and have your own blog about it?ReplyDelete
The same kind that goes to bad movie nights and writes a blog about bad movies, I guess?
What is so hard about owning a blog? It's a fucking blogspot. It's not like it requires effort or even commitment.
"Oooh, R sounds SENSITIVE. You must be mad that someone's laughing at you right now."
I just find idiots amusing :)
Like yappy chiuauas
So the reason your blog sucks is that you don't put any commitment into it? I don't believe you.
It's something creative and people put work into creative stuff because when they look back at what they've created they see a part of them on the screen.
It's interesting that your creative works are obsessive and weird.
"anyway, "code of hammurabi" shirts, $48"
this was the best part
No, the reason you think it sucks is you're a slavering XKCD fanboy who can't comprehend the notion that people are capable of disagreeing with them and writing about that disagreement without being obsessive or moronic.ReplyDelete
it is like arguing with a teenager
please continue
No, R. You like this blog and get offended when people insult it.
Thin-skinned troll is sad.
Project, much?ReplyDelete
Me = Not you
No, a lot of xkcd comics suck. That's not the point.
The point is setting up a blog that revolves around that comic is sad. It's as sad as those people who go on about how much they love xkcd. There's no difference between you and them, you're both obsessing over a stupid, pointless little comic.
No normal person would do what you've done.
am i really getting given advice by a 13 year old
And commenting anonymously on the blog concern trolling is perfectly healthy, not weird and obsessive at all, and indicative of a well-adjusted individual?
So what do you think of bad movie nights?
(You might want a better word than "normal." Normal implies that there's a virtue in being like the teeming masses of stupidity that make up the world.)
While I generally imagine Carl as sitting in a house full of vandalized pictures of Randall and XKCD prints with darts in them and "XKCD SUCKS" written on the walls in his own bodily fluids, if Rob obsesses about anything that we can all be aware of, it's obviously that semi-creepy micro-fiction.
Although Blood struck me the same sort of way that that xkcd about rules for walking on floor tiles struck me so, um, thanks for making me scared of myself a little.
ehehehehe do you want to taste fluids nowReplyDelete
I live in my mom's basement, have a 3 inch dick, a face that scares children and worst of all, post in the comments section of xkcdsucks.
I know I'm a weirdo for posting on this blog. What's so fun is fucking with all of you who don't realize how stupid this all is.
Except it just makes you come off as dumb. Like, I'm not trying to be mean here, but I really couldn't possibly care less what some anonymous troll thinks of my life based on the fact that I write for XKCD Sucks. Acting like your (incredibly tired and played-out) attacks are somehow clever or efficacious really just makes you seem like a moron.
But you never answered my question.
C'mon, you can't be upset. There's a reason us hate-filled assholes are over here and not posting with the sheep on xkcd forums. All that mushy, 'Randal you're so great' shit makes me sick.
This is a troll blog for trolls. The loserness makes it perfect.
Hate in, hate out. It's the circle of life. Hakuna matata. Can you feel the love tonight?
Oh, Rob. Lets stop this fighting. It's enough for this restless warrior just to be with you. And can you feel the love tonight? It is where we are. It's enough for this wide-eyed wanderer that we got this far. And can you feel the love tonight; how it's laid to rest? It's enough to make kings and vagabonds believe the very best.ReplyDelete
PLEASE DON'T FEEL MY FLAAAAAB TONIGHTReplyDelete
It's enough for this one-eyed monster
That I got it in this far
Everybody here is a douche bag, because my penis is small.ReplyDelete
Guys did you know that Randall Munroe is going to start a cult that will try to bring about the end of the world and fail miserably? I should know it came to me in a dream.ReplyDelete
@Rob: I will be taking over for FluidAnon, as he shall now be known, and answer your question.
Bad movie nights are different! The point of those is to get together with your FRIENDS (something you might not be familiar with) so that you can have a fun night! The movie isn't central to the night, it's the gathering! It could have been about anything at all! Where as HERE, everyone is obsessively talking about how much something sucks to the exclusion of anything else, with a bunch of people they've never met! It's like a big circle jerk via the internet!
It's true, Randall/Carl is starting a cult; he is the reincarnation of L. Ron Hubbard. We must fight him!ReplyDelete
Lol talk about wacky commentsReplyDelete
I think we should all just hug and go for pintsReplyDelete
How the hell did the thread for this comic on the xkcd forums devolve into an argument about common law marriage and a philosophical debate about marriage and marriage law?
Capta: moomenis. that is all.
Wow, those nondescript stick figures sure showed those advertisers. By getting the ads that they are looking at to read something slightly different. Or something.ReplyDelete
If anyone tries to say that the art in the first panel is good, or impressive, I will be very testy. It's a tolerable drawing of the ISS, overwhelmed by a shitty blue gradient that's probably supposed to represent the Earth.
I can't tell if there's a joke in there or not; I suspect there is, and I just can't suss it out because I don't know well enough how banner ads tell where you live.
I think Randall's new angle is to draw better-than-average-Randall artwork in order to calm the haters who think he has no joke.
'Cause seriously, everyone keeps saying that "Man, this joke was terrible, at least the art is alright."
Listen up, artwork never saves the comic. If Randall drew picture-perfect caricatures of humans in what he calls his latest comics, it would still suck. Artwork, no matter the detail, isn't a saving grace, it's a given.
goatkcd 713 is gonna be excellentReplyDelete
biblequizzingwebsite.com had 713 on it about half an hour before xkcd did, just like with the R2D2 cartoon. I think it's just an alternate domain Randall uses to make sure stuff isn't broken before he updates.ReplyDelete
Don't forget about "XKCD Could Be Better" :(ReplyDelete
thanks to the people of xkcdsucks i really came to appreciate the work of randall again. thank you for that!
now you may go on with your pathetic little blog.
see you never again! :)
man anon @11:00 sure showed us. we should stop this immediately, guys.ReplyDelete
I don't really get the new one. They say they're doing this to mess with the advertisers but...I mean it's not like the ad stores the location and uses it in other places. The only ones seeing that ad are those guys in the comic so...how are they messing with the advertisers?
I assume the joke is "Ha ha those girls can't possibly be in space so therefore they're not local!" which isn't really a good joke and still doesn't qualify as messing with the advertisers that I can see.
@FemaleHoth - Seriously? You don't think there's anything in the points brought up that the LOTR reference is not *pure* fan service? There's been two points:
1) LOTR is critical to this joke.
2) Since LOTR is popular, nerds won't be happy that finally their particular obsession is getting recognition in XKCD.
Note: I did see Carl's point about how there are obscure references here. I'm of two minds on this. Again, it is necessary to have at least some of these references to set the context within the LOTR universe. You could argue that there are too many references which brings it into the fan service category, but I'd say that the way Sauron was ranting in a depressed way is what sets up the joke.
Also, I'm not defending the joke itself, but attacking your point.
Something about tricking your fellow astronaut into watching a shock site tickles my funny bone. That's all I want to say about today's goatkcd.
Unfortunately, its cheap rip-off "xkcd" wasn't as witty. I think it's not the first time he used "hot singles in your area" ads as a source of humor. Or "your mom's basement" for that matter. Also, I'm not sure that the Earth-based computer that is used to connect ISS to the Internet has unique IP. That would unnecessarily expose it to external attacks. Most likely it is hidden deep within NASA's local network.
Although the reference to Lindon is obscure, you don't need to actually remember it. It's still so easy to figure out from context the important thing - that we're far enough back in the timeline that this joke can be about Sauron getting the ring idea for the first time. And even if you don't figure that out, it's easy to just go "oh, he says that's Sauron, so it's got something to do with LOTR... oh, RING on it! Ha ha, I get it!"
I wouldn't mind Randall's "fanservice" jokes so much if they actually DID take some work to get! So here's what would have made this really nerdy and thus possibly more worth the effort of remembering this Beyonce earworm:
Instead of awful stick Sauron, have a "pretty" stick figure with wavy hair or something. Then have Beret Guy address him as Annatar instead of Sauron, so it's not all so bloody obvious.
Now, even though the "put a ring on it" line is broadcast from panel 1, unless you remember off the top of your head who Annatar is, it's going to take you a minute of thought through your Silmarillion knowledge to get what precisely is going on here even if you are a bit of a Tolkien nerd.
captcha: trugs. This is your Ent on trugs.
"Instead of awful stick Sauron, have a "pretty" stick figure with wavy hair or something. Then have Beret Guy address him as Annatar instead of Sauron, so it's not all so bloody obvious."
Why is making XKCD even MORE obscure and geeky going to help? The problem is that the comic isn't funny, not that it's not obscure enough. I 'got' it and I've never read the Silmarillion. Everything you need to know to get the joke is in LOTR, the rest is just Randall trying to be clever.
Oh, and the new comic is AWFUL.ReplyDelete
I never have any idea what is going on here anymore.
But I didn't think 712 was too bad, until I saw the copied comic. Not that he necessarily stole it, but it is similar enough that he should say "woops." Also the title somehow gave away what was already an obvious joke. I don't know how that happened.
713 blows.
713 is a lame attempt at a rule 34 joke. There's only one thing worse than /b/tards, and that's wannabe tryhard /b/tards.ReplyDelete
Sauron is *supposed* to look hideous so I don't see how you can all complain about that.ReplyDelete
The linked comic is fucking terrible.ReplyDelete
couldn't this blog just be replaced with "whine whine bitch whine" in big bold letters?
you don't like a comic, whoop de doo
couldn't you post just be replaced with "whine whine bitch whine"?ReplyDelete
whine whine bitch whineReplyDelete
Sauron is *supposed* to look hideous so I don't see how you can all complain about that.
It's not hideous in the way a horrifying creature, well-drawn, would be... it's hideous in a badly-drawn way. It looks like turd and should never have been committed to stick figure form. It has a terribly-drawn Zoidberg mouth, and the semi-detailed head doesn't look good with the standard stick figure body. It's uggo. It is something that should not exist.
Even if Randall is comparing marriage to Sauron (which I don't believe he's doing, anyway) it's still a crappy joke. Comic strips and sitcoms have been joking about how marriage sucks for decades.ReplyDelete
Carl why are you trying to make our country communist behind our backs? Isn't it a big enough slap in the face that you're a dirty ni-muslim foreigner? Why do you have to go and ruin everything else that makes our country great along with that?ReplyDelete
I don't get the joke, if there even is one. I suppose the bit about solving the problem of being too handsome by raising your own standards is all right. But the pants? Perhaps pants are a running joke, but no way am I reading 1671 (!) other more-or-less-identical comics to find out.
Anyway, I'm tired of this now so I'm not going to do any more reviews. I don't have Carl's mighty, bile-dripping stamina.
Any others that get posted are just imitations. Though why anyone would want to imitate this I don't know. I barely even want to post this myself.
713 is fucking TERRIBLE. The guy's comment in the second panel doesn't even make sense. "To mess with advertisers?" You really think they give a shit. "How the hell is this one IP address, out of millions, in Low Earth Orbit? God, now our ad TOTALLY doesn't work!" No, they don't give a shit, because its a goddamn script. The dialog maeks no sense, it's fucking FILLER. You wanted to do this joke that badly, huh? It coulda been done in one panel. That way, I wouldn't have to waste my time reading two extraneous panels to get to the lame joke. Jesus H. Maxwell Christ on a crutch this pisses me OFFFFFF ARRRRGGGGRABBLEFRAGGLE!!!ReplyDelete
Yeah, the advertisers algorithms aren't that good. Isn't that funny.
They don't need to add Low Earth Orbit into their database. They've already got plenty of locations where it's obvious that the girls in the ads are bogus. I was in Peru recently, and it was amazing how many of the "hot local girls" were blondes with names like Ashley or Brittany.
The comic would have been better if panel 1 and panel 2 had no dialog. Or maybe if panel 1 had no dialog and panel 2 was moved to the end and showed 2 dudes getting excited, with some dialog about how they didn't know there were girls in LOE.ReplyDelete
I agree one panel, or two (different) silent panels then the punchline. And it works better if the guy hasn't done any hacking at all.
Maybe it would have been better as a 2001 themed joke. Two silent establishing frames, the ship, then the interior with Dave. then HAL says,"Dave, meet hot young singles in orbit around Saturn."
...And that's why I don't write a webcomic.
How about if there was no hacking?
Also, 713 reminds me of what I cannot, thanks to Carl, unsee in 672.
way, much betterReplyDelete
I think a better comic would have involved a business traveler who is surprised to see that, whichever, area he is in, the same set of local singles follows him around. Maybe a joke about Axe could be incorporated too.
I know that everyone else has probably noticed this, but it's possible to infer Randall's love life from the comics. He was dumped shortly before Valentine's Day, hooked up with someone (possibly a D&D partner) a few days before 708, and is now single, looking for women in both bars and the internet (possibly nursing a feeling of regret for not proposing to his ex while he had the chance). Also, Randall may be attracted to a blonde friend of his (notice how the female astronaut is blonde, a departure from the default "generic brunette" female character that Randall usually uses).
I wouldn't have noticed this pattern, but really, two "single ladies" comics in a row? Randall must be feeling really lonely.
Mal, worry not, I won't do any praising for art in this comic. For a reason quite simple: it's not praisable!
Look at that first panel. The most praisable thing there is the space station and it's... mediocre. The background? It really bothers me, for a reason as simple as the Earth abruptly ends on the blackness of space. I can almost see the pixels! Seriously, those white blurry things? Should be clouds, they shouldn't look like that!
Now, in regards to the joke... it's... ugh. First of all, would advertisers really care if their ads are detecting IPs from Earth's low orbit? For all I know, they care as much as to create ads that suddenly change from "chat with these girls which we swear are from your town, but have names no girl in your coutry would have!" to "you are the REAL 1,000,000th visitor" while I was looking. Which means no, they don't care.
The alt-text is another variant, with the oddness factor being that your mom's basement has its own IP prefix. Also, another weak jab at the nerd stereotype.
Now, a way this comic could be a bit funnier with that same text: put those "girls" in spacesuits. Imagine: the expectation is that those phony ads will be unchanged, but it turns out the advertisers are smarter and changed the ads just to mess back with the stickman. Subversion: it's not that good as humor, but I think it'd be better than this.
That's all, for now. Mole out.
Just noticed one thing about the Sauron comic: It can't make sense unless you really want it to. I am considering the Single Ladies ref is useless beyond fan service.
Situation 1 - Don't know anything about LoTR: So, Sauron know some people and should get a ring what?
Situation 2 - Know just enought about LoTR (movies, maybe original book trilogy): Why would they even be TALKING to Sauron on the first place? He has the ring already, what is he getting from the music!?
Situation 3 - Know Silmarillion, maybe even other Tolkien works (whom this comic should target): Why the hell would he get the idea from the music? He had already made the rings before being cast out by the elves! What he is getting from the music!?
So, in the end, this comic uniformly fails to all possible target audiences. Unless stupid people happen to be Randall's target.
Way Walker: kudos, that edit is much funnier (as in, it's actually funny now) than Randy's.
Constructive criticism about xkcd:
1) Randy should move it to a picto-blog format.
2) Randy needs an editor.
3) That editor should be Way Walker.
Agree ^ReplyDelete
Thirded. Great job again, Way.ReplyDelete
As others have said, the Gollum joke isn't quite the same thing. However, it does come from the same place of "OMG, I was just listening to Beyonce and her song totally reminded me of LOTR because they both have RINGS, AMIRITE?"
It's such an obvious joke that I'm surprised it hasn't been made a hundred times by now.
As for the singles website one, that'd be more effective as "my hobby: Changing my IP address to fool advertisers", then having the ad feature blonde porn stars from an unlikely location. A bonus would be some self-awareness about how lame the trick really is, but I don't think Randall actually is that aware.
After all, he thought of the "girlfriend" comic.
- Dr. Dugong.
No anon, to that one sentence you made, no, it's not an obvious joke, at all. It isn't an obvious joke because how many people in this world do you suppose would consider making note of everything that isn't LOTR that mentions rings being a joke?ReplyDelete
Of course, the Hijinks Ensue joke is better (and actually rather subpar for Joel). It actually has a reason to link LotR and the song, uses a current pop culture reference rather than a year old song, has a moderately amusing setup and some decent artwork. And I think it's the artwork in the final frame hat actually saves it.ReplyDelete
Welcome. This is a website called XKCD SUCKS which is about the webcomic xkcd and why we think it sucks. My name is Carl and I used to write about it all the time, then I stopped because I went insane, and now other people write about it all the time. I forget their names. The posts still seem to be coming regularly, but many of the structural elements - like all the stuff in this lefthand pane - are a bit outdated. What can I say? Insane, etc.
I started this site because it had been clear to me for a while that xkcd is no longer a great webcomic (though it once was). Alas, many of its fans are too caught up in the faux-nerd culture that xkcd is a part of, and can't bring themselves to admit that the comic, at this point, is terrible. While I still like a new comic on occasion, I feel that more and more of them need the Iron Finger of Mockery knowingly pointed at them. This used to be called "XKCD: Overrated", but then it fell from just being overrated to being just horrible. Thus, xkcd sucks.
Here is a comic about me that Ann made. It is my favorite thing in the world.


text:
This deal has expired and may no longer be valid.
These Walmart coupon matchups contain any week-long deals (if advertised) and on-going deals at Walmart matched up with coupons from the Sunday paper, All You magazine, and online printable coupons. Please note: Walmart prices vary (often greatly) from store-to-store and region-to-region so some of what is included in the on-going deals may not reflect the prices in your store.
In addition to these great deals at Walmart, don't forget to price match. Your Walmart will even match the advertised price for generics, as long as its Great Value item is the exact same size and quantity. Plus, be sure to enter your receipt for the Walmart Savings Catcher Program just in case they find a lower price. Before you do your first coupon trip to Walmart, check out their corporate coupon policy.
Your turn: What other deals did you find at Walmart this week?
Thanks to I Heart the Mart for a starting a list of deals.


text:
Is Christina Ricci Taller Than Tara Buck?
Who is taller?!
Christina Ricci is shorter than Tara Buck by 10cm.
That's roughly 4 inches or 0.1 metres.
Have a look at Christina Ricci's and Tara Buck's pages to see some more information about their heights and names.
You can also check your height against theirs and see how you compare.


text:
Choose the correct conjugation of "sein" for the given tenses!
Practise with a private teacher on Skype!
- Private Skype lessons
- Learn any topic
- Flexible appointments
My name is Christina and I provide fun German and French language lesson for children and adult beginners or intermediate who want to... strengthen their language skills, improve the grammar knowledge, enrich the vocabulary and get into the German culture! I can teach in English or French! I had experince in teaching German, English and French to foreign people so I do have a lot of useful learning material I can provide you to make it easier! Read more
Hello, my name is Claus !For many years I teach students from all over the world as a professional teacher of the German language. With a lot of... experience and patience I lead my students to their to teach successfully and with fun. I offer you general language courses of B1- C2 with test preparations, as well as courses in Business German (prerequisites are language proficiency in German from level B1 +!). Read more
Very experienced teacher!
I am Marcus Hartmann, 30 years old and I have been living in Cali, Colombia, for more than four years. There I work as a German teacher for... Spanish-speaking people, young and old. I love the German language and develop many modern methodologies to make the German more playful and easier to learn. I also run a blog and a Facebook page, where I present many tips and tricks that make learning German easier. I teach German for all levels and Spanish for beginners. Read more
Very experienced teacher!
What our students say
Unlike in other platforms, all our teachers are manually verified by our professional team. Trust in the experiences of our students.
Hands down one of the best teachers I've had the pleasure of working with. Very knowledgeable in all aspects of Bulgarian (grammar rules, expressions, ...) but also in both English and French, which helps whenever you have a more in-depth question on the how or why something is the way it is in Bulgarian. Furthermore he has his own material and always comes prepared, but he is equally open to changing the subject of a lesson to suit your needs. He is patient, positive and not too scholarly, which is what you need as an adult learning day- to- day Bulgarian.I have been working with him for 18 months now and still look forward to our lessons every week.
Zlatko Z.
An's Bulgarian has tremendously improved since she gave it go a year and a half ago. Of course, It goes without saying that I am pleased to work with such an enthusiastic learner who is living proof that, through hard work and perseverance, everyone can succeed in their language goals. An, you are now an independant user of the language who is able to successfully lead real-live conversations. Pat yourself on the back.
Elena is an excellent teacher and a very nice person. I have been training in Spanish with Elena for quite some time now after her being recommended to me by a friend, and have consistently been very pleased with our lessons. While I do not consider myself to be very good at learning foreign languages, Elena is very patient and adapts the lessons to my ability, making me feel at ease. In fact, I find her to be extremely skilled at assessing exactly where I am at any given time with respect to my individual learning situation, and structuring the lessons accordingly. I think I probably would have given up trying to learn Spanish had I not began my study with Elena; and that would have been a shame considering where I am now with the language. Because of Elena's skilled help, I am extremely pleased to not only be conversant in basic Spanish, but also have confidence that I will one day reach full proficiency with the language. No other learning method I tried before meeting Elena compares to the one-on-one, personalized instruction I receive from her, which comprises reading; writing; developmental exercises; and most importantly, conversation. To be able to look at Spanish now and have it appear largely familiar is extremely satisfying. I even plan to study Italian with Elena after reaching my desired level in Spanish. These are not things I ever imagined would occur at the beginning stages of my studies. I am a native English speaker and find Elena's English to be excellent. She had no difficulty instructing me from the very beginning levels where it was necessary that a lot of English be spoken in our lessons, to where we are now with much less English being spoken. The friend who recommended Elena to me learned Dutch from her, and is equally pleased with their experience. I would not hesitate to learn from Elena any of the languages she teaches. I give Elena my highest recommendations and thank her for all the help she has provided me.
Elena P.
Thank you for your feedback, Brandon! I am very happy to know that you are so satisfied with the lessons. I've always believed that you could make it and I am glad that we never gave it up. The right attitude and a high level of perseverance have been the keys to your success. It has been a pleasure to be your guide in your learning process. I know that you can do much more, so let's continue towards a next level!
Again a lesson full of fun anf full of learning opportunities. I really like Angels patience and ability to adapt to my learning process.
Angel S.
This student is one of the best ones I ever had in my long teaching career. She is always so diligent and willing to learn more and more. I am so happy to work with her and see the immense progress she has made since we first started working together. Thank you Silke!
I would highly recommend Tove. Her lessons are fantastic and I learn exactly what I'm interested in. Tove is very friendly, our chemistry goes well together and I really enjoy being tought by her.
Tove K.
Dear Anita, Thank you very much for your nice review! I enjoy our lessons very much too and I am so happy that our communication and chemistry fit well together. That's the best precondition for a good learning experience. See you soon!
We are an Italian family residing in France for 3 months, we have two 10 year old children who have just started attending CM1. We asked Natalia to give the children two lessons a week to speed up their learning. We are super happy with the choice. Nous sommes une famille italienne résidant en France depuis janvier, nous avons deux enfants de 10 ans qui viennent de commencer la CM1. Nous avons demandé à Natalia de leur donner deux leçons par semaine pour accélérer leur apprentissage. Nous sommes super contents de Natalia. We are an Italian family living in France since 3 months, we have two 10 year old children who have just started attending CM1. We asked Natalia to give the kids two lessons a week to speed up their learning. We are super happy with this choice.
Natalia L.
Fabrizio's children are learning French very fast, I have the impression that these lessons online have been helpful for them and I am sure they will master the language easily. They are very interested in learning.
Daniela is a very pleasant and brisk teacher who has the talent to make you feel at ease immediately. Her lessons are a nice mix of conversation and theory. Again and again it is a nice hour to look forward to !! Thank you Daniela !!
Daniela V.
Dear Hilde, thank you very much for your words. I'm glad you are satisfied with our time together. I will continue to do my best to make you practice your beautiful Italian in a cheerful and peaceful way :-)
It is always a pleasure to have English lessons with Corinne. The lessons are always a lot of fun and extremely interesting concerning on current affairs and unfortunately the time always ends too early. Very recommended.
Corinne P.
Thank you, Danilo. It is always a pleasure having lessons with you and I have enjoyed our many conversations together. And what a joy that over time they have become easier for both of us to understand! :D
Carmen is really prepared and very very nice. She takes you by the hand and introduces you to portuguese language in a really pleasant way. I learned 3-4 sentences already on the first lesson!
Carmen L.
Fabia is a very nice student and learns very quickly. It is a pleasure to teach her as she really likes to learn a difficult language like Portuguese and improved a lot.
It was very nice to take a lesson from Theano (Anny). She is adaptable to the student's level and is prepared to help the student as necessary. She is a friendly and caring teacher!
Σ' ευχαριστώ πολύ Μέγκαν! I'm glad you had a good experience and that you enjoyed it. Your excitment about learning greek motivates me even more :)
Marissa is a very professional teacher who can put the student at ease. It is precise, effective and oriented towards achieving the objectives: highly recommended.
Marissa F.
Thanks so much Paola!!! I LOVE working with you guys and have enjoyed every moment. Even after this brief period, we can already start to see some changes. :-)
I have had many lessons with Luisa and I always look forward to them. We begin by chatting about the past week's events and them move to Espresso which I find very useful as a good review of material I have done in the past. There is often additional words used I had not met before. Luisa is always a pleasure to talk with and is a kind and pleasant teacher. She corrects me gently and offers useful words or meanings when appropriate.
Luisa A.
Dear Martin thank you so much ! It's my pleasure taking class with you. And thanks a lot for your suggestion about Us movies ( Just Mercy) or Us books
I had my first lesson a couple of days ago and everything went super good!
Karin was attentive, transmiting her positivism and helping me with every doubt I had.
She really focus on teaching how to pronounce and talk a language, so this is really interesting for me, to practise it & be able to use it in my day by day.
I really recommend her to everyone willing to learn a new language :)
Karin L.
Hi Alba! Thank you so much for your wonderful review! I enjoyed our class too & I wish you the best of luck with all your future projects :-)
A prepared and kind teacher, ready to teach with patience and good humor. He provided me with very useful materials to study and review even after the lesson. I recommend it to anyone who wants to learn a language with a smile. Thanks Silvia :)
Silvia C.
Thank you so much for the Chiara review! It was a real pleasure to have this lesson with you. I wish you a nice trip with the German language!
The lesson with Celia was perfect! She was puntcual, kind and her teaching method is effective and funny.
She started the class with some "games" to get to know eachother and then we discussed about an article she provided. The time of the class passed really fast and I learned new vocabulary.
Absolutely raccomended.
Celia S.
Thank you so much, Remark! I´m happy to know you enjoyed our lesson and I´m looking forward to having more in the near future! Cheers!
Ekaterina writes new words and sentences learnt during the lesson. She has got a very nice attitude and great accent! A pleasure to work with... yes, even in German!!!!!
Ekaterina V.
Dear Silvia, thank you very much for your feedback! It's a real pleasure to have classes with you, and I hope you find them useful!


text:
SANTA CLARA, Calif. — Stephen Lenhart brought the San Jose Earthquakes' late-game magic back with him on Saturday.
In front of a Buck Shaw Stadium crowd dotted with fans wearing blond wigs handed out in his honor, Lenhart returned from a four-game injury absence and hammered home a goal in the 98th minute to give the Quakes a 1-1 tie against the Chicago Fire.
Lenhart scored from 20 yards, lasering a ball chested down by Chris Wondolowski to finally break through against Chicago goalkeeper Sean Johnson, who had kept MLS' most prolific offense at bay to that point with 10 saves, several of a spectacular variety.
The goal neutralized a 37th-minute strike from Chicago midfielder Chris Rolfe and kept alive San Jose's streak of late-game performances. Sixteen of the Earthquakes' league-leading 45 goals have come in the 76th minute or later.
San Jose (13-5-5) moved two points clear of Real Salt Lake atop the Western Conference and Supporters' Shield standings.
Chicago (9-7-5) failed to win for the first time this season when scoring the first goal. The Fire had been 6-0-0 when taking a 1-0 lead. Chicago also dropped to 4-0-1 after holding a halftime lead.
Rolfe put Chicago ahead with relative ease in the 37th minute, slipping between midfielder Sam Cronin and the Quakes' back four to receive a pass from Patrick Nyarko. When San Jose failed to close down quickly enough, Rolfe put a well-placed toe kick to the far post from 23 yards, past the reach of Quakes goalkeeper Jon Busch.
San Jose, who came in a league-best 3-3-2 when conceding the first goal, searched desperately for an equalizer, only to find Johnson lurking at almost every turn.
The Quakes had a great look at goal in the 59th minute, when forward Alan Gordon rose up in Chicago's box for an unimpeded header, but Johnson dove low to his right and scooped the ball to safety.
Johnson tipped a Simon Dawkins drive over the crossbar in the 85th minute as the Earthquakes poured players forward.
Busch matched Johnson early on, parrying shots from Nyarko and Alex, and charged off his line to break up a dangerous counterattack by Logan Pause in the 79th minute to keep San Jose in the contest.
Four of Johnson's pre-intermission saves came at the expense of Dawkins, who tried every way to score without success. Whether it was a full volley from outside the penalty box (21st minute), a redirection from inside the 6 (33rd), a a left-footed blast from 14 yards (36th) or a tightly angled back-post volley (44th), Johnson was up to the task.
Gordon took a yellow card in the 55th minute after colliding with Pause, and another in the 93rd after losing a 50-50 battle with Dan Gargan to get sent off. San Jose's second-leading scorer will serve a one-game suspension when the Quakes face Seattle on Aug. 11.
OPTA Chalkboard: Goalkeepers take center stage
Dutch forward Sherjill MacDonald, signed by Chicago as a Designated Player on Tuesday, opened on the bench in his first game with the Fire and debuted in the 64th minute. Midfielder Álvaro Fernández, another DP acquired from the Sounders on Friday, did not make the trip and will meet the team in Chicago next week.
San Jose, who host English Premier League side Swansea City on July 31 in a friendly, return to MLS action on Aug. 11 against Seattle. Chicago host Toronto on Aug. 4.
MLSsoccer.com Men of the Match
|What We Saw
|Sean Johnson
|The late goal will be a bitter, bitter pill to swallow after he put on what was easily the best goalkeeping performance of the year
|Justin Morrow
|A sterling defensive performance from the recent, All-Star, kept Chicago's attackers at bay for most of the game both on the left andin the center
|Steven Lenhart
|Showed his typical bustle off the bench after a four-game layoff and his a perfect shot to steal a point for the San Jose at the death


text:
This headstone marks the resting place of my grand uncle Joseph Musgrove and his wife Annie Simpson.
Joseph was born 23 October 1912 to parents Joseph Musgrove and Elizabeth Ann Turner – my great grandparents. He was the youngest of at least ten children. Annie was born 26 September 1907.
Joseph and Annie married sometime in the first quarter of 1933 and the marriage was registered at Clitheroe, Lancashire. They had two daughters plus grandchildren and great grandchildren.
As you can see from the headstone Joseph died 11 November 1989 and Annie died 26 January 2004. They are buried at Christ Church, Chatburn, Lancashire.


text:
- This event has passed.
Sage-ing Program
July 16, 2018 @ 10:00 am - 12:00 pm
|Recurring Event (See all)
An event every week that begins at 10:00 am on Monday, repeating indefinitely
Part of the Sage-ing International organization, participants in the Sage-ing Program have deep discussions, exploring areas of personal growth. In this introductory series of classes, we look at tools for expanding consciousness and how to harvest the wisdom from your life experiences. We explore the blessings of your elder years.
Every Monday at 10 a.m. in the Multi-Purpose Room and additional workshops throughout the year.


text:
English Baby Names Meaning:
The name Mystee is an English Baby Names baby name. In English Baby Names the meaning of the name Mystee is: Misty.
SoulUrge Number: 1
People with this name have a deep inner desire to use their abilities in leadership, and to have personal independence. They would rather focus on large, important issues, and delegate the details.
expression Number: 6
for harmony and balance in their lives, and respond positively to beautiful things.


text:
Belt, Alternator Stt-cat
This product requires extra time for processing. Click here to see our shipping schedule or call us at 877-306-3708
|Fits Models
|Part Number
Scag parts including Scag blades are easy to find on Mowpart.com. Parts for Scag mowers and Scag tiger cub parts are in stock and we direct ship Scag mower blades straight from our wharehouse. We keep everything from a Scag seat, Scag grass catcher, Scag mower blades, Scag belts, Scag electric clutch or Scag mower deck. Buy discount Scag parts online today and save. Now our new Scag parts diagrams make it even easier for you to locate Scag wheels, blades, belts, pulleys, spindles, seats, anti scalp rollers, key switches, pto switches, safety switches or a Scag mower deck . Simply type in your model number and use one of our thousands of diagrams to find a Scag blade buddy or Scag walk behind parts. We even have Scag mower accessories. If you already know your part number just put it in our search box and click you will have it on your door step before you know it! If you don't know your part number just use our Scag mower parts lookup and you will find Scag commercial mower parts cheap! Scag lawn mower blades are our specialty. We are one of the largest Scag lawn mower dealers and we sell Scag mower parts online. If you need a Scag parts manual or Scag zero turn mowers parts we can help.


text:
Quick! Grab your summer tote, a floppy hat, and your favorite wedges. We've got the best colors that will keep your sun-kissed feet looking fabulous on your next trip to the beach.
1. By The Sea Shore
By The Sea Shore
No matter the beach locale, keep the ocean right on the tip of your toes with this blue polish.
China Glaze Nail Lacquer With Hardeners in Wait 'n' Sea, $4, hbbeautybar.com
2. Pretty in Pink
Pretty in Pink
You can't go wrong with this magenta pink for a clean and classic look.
Zoya Professional Lacquer Nail Polish in Rooney, $9, zoya.com
3. Brighter Than The Sun
Brighter than the Sun
Opt for a metallic shade in pink champagne that shows off the glow of a sun-kissed tone.
Julep Nail Color in Zelda, $14, julep.com
4. Such a Diva
Such a Diva
Show off your wild side with an intense and sexy orange hue that's bound to keep you looking on trend all summer long.
Essie Nail Polish in Roarrrrange, $9, essie.com
5. Toasted Sand
Toasted Sand
This copper color has flecks of gold glitter that will have the sun bouncing off your toes.
Butter London Nail Laquer in Brown Sugar, $15, butterlondon.com


text:
Dinas Road, Pont Nedd Fechan, Neath, West Glamorgan, SA11 5NH
01639 720378
Followers 1
We currently have no information about the attributes at this pub. If you know Craig-Y-Dinas Hotel we would love you to update any missing details, or correct anything you think is wrong. Update the pub details
latest pub news, offers & events
We're really sorry but we don't seem to have any offers or events for Craig-Y-Dinas Hotel.
We're sure there must be something happening here but they just haven't told us about it! Please do mention this to Craig-Y-Dinas Hotel when you next visit them.


text:
To Order 1-800-577-5694
Unable to find products suitable to provide the special needs of their own child, Bailey founders developed and built new products themselves. And, from day one, the same care that went into producing products for a family member has carried over to a wide variety of products ranging from tables and parallel bars, stall bars, to stools, mirrors, training stairs, and more. Since the beginning, the philosophy at Bailey has been to provide the highest quality products at a fair price; and, as our product line has grown so has our commitment to excellence and customer satisfaction.
©2020 Advantage Medical - Physical Therapy Equipment Supplier, a division of Scrip, Inc
Privacy Policy


text:
|0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z
Have you ever thought about fashion as a process with its own laws of development and peculiarities? It has gone through centuries, transforming and changing according to the historical situation and the needs of the society. One of the key features of humanity is a sense of style and beauty, so from Ancient Egypt to the modern time people were using makeup of this or that kind in everyday life.
If we look at today's makeup and cosmetics for Lakme 9to5 lipstick shades with price, we will definitely see that the range of the products available increased dramatically even comparing to the last couple of decades. Why it happened, and why it is happening now, in front of our eyes? The answer is simple — changing social situation and needs along with the burst of the chemical industry, allowing to create new textures, new products, and concepts. However, the needs of people are the key, as far meeting the customers' expectation and fulfilling their requests, especially the ones, not being proclaimed, is the main task of all the fashion industry in general.


text:
Dental disease is a problem for cats of any age, but especially for older cats. Tartar build-up, gum disease, and bad breath are bad enough, but they bring with them other serious problems. Infected teeth are swarming with harmful bacteria that have direct access to your cat's bloodstream through the blood vessels in and around the roots of his teeth. These bacteria travel throughout your cat's body, and their two favorite places to do damage are the kidneys and the heart valves. When damaged, kidneys become unable to eliminate toxic waste from the body through the urine, and your cat begins to suffer from kidney failure. Eventually, this will prove fatal. Infected heart valves become shriveled and gnarled and no longer close properly when the heart contracts. The heart becomes unable to pump blood throughout the body properly. Then other body systems begin to malfunction.
Anesthesia is never without risk, even for a young and healthy cat, but modern anesthetics, machines, and monitoring equipment make the procedure much safer. Your veterinarian may recommended a pre-anesthetic evaluation of your cat, which should include a thorough examination to detect other health problems; an electrocardiogram (ECG), which might detect abnormalities of the heart; and analysis of a blood sample (both a complete blood count, or CBC, and serum biochemistry panel, often just called a panel) to determine whether other internal organs are functioning normally. Analysis of a urine sample (urinalysis) will also help your doctor evaluate the kidneys.
All of these tests should be performed at least every two years on cats older than 10 years of age. The tests will tell your veterinarian how well your cat will respond to anesthesia and which anesthetic procedures might be safest for him. Just because he doesn't pass these tests with flying colors doesn't mean he shouldn't be anesthetized: Those teeth still need to be thoroughly cleaned (even under the gums, which is impossible without anesthesia), and many cats with some malfunction of the heart, kidneys, liver, or other organs can be safely anesthetized as long as special precautions are taken.
One last bit of advice: Don't make the mistake of not taking good care of your older cat's teeth (or any other health problem he may have) just because he's an old cat. With modern veterinary care, many cats now live to be at least 20 years old, and withholding care now could rob you of several wonderful years with your feline buddy.
Copyright © 2001 The Humane Society of the United States All rights reserved.


text:
Saturday 4th August 1951 – Alice Musgrove and Graham Dawson married at the Parish Church of St. James, in Clitheroe, Lancashire.
So today would have been their diamond wedding anniversary. Sadly dad passed away in 2008 so there will be no anniversary celebrations – and he really enjoyed a good old "knees up". However it is still a time to remember and mark the special day.
Alice and Graham were married at 2.00pm. The witnesses were Harry Dawson (dad's brother – see yesterday's Wordless Wednesday photograph) and Elsie Bartlett (mum's best friend). There were four bridesmaids and a page boy
The reception for 77 guests was held at the Craven Heifer Hotel on Whalley Road, Clitheroe.
As was the case for many couples in those days mum and dad took their honeymoon in Blackpool – about thirty six miles away.
The country was still in the post war ration era and you can see from the hotel confirmation (below) that mum and dad were required to take with them their complete ration books (with points), tea coupons and their own soap & towels.
Mum has kept all the paperwork related to the wedding and this has now been scanned and preserved as part of my digital treasure chest.


text:
When reporting a Bug/Issue please specify your In-Game Username for better Troubleshooting. For Customer Support use the "Help" button in the game.
Use this control to limit the display of threads to those newer than the specified time frame.
Allows you to choose the data by which the thread list will be sorted.
Order threads in...
Note: when sorting by date, 'descending order' will show the newest results first.
Forum Rules


text:
How do car batteries work?
Although the technology has not changed greatly over the years, the use of a battery has expanded. As most commonly known, the battery provides the necessary burst of electricity to start the car's engine, sending it down the cable to power the starter motor, which then turns the flywheel. In addition, the battery provides power when the engine is not running. Lights and security systems stay on after the engine has been shut off. On board computers also perform many basic diagnostic functions while the car is not in use. Last and least known, the battery acts as a giant capacitor. It easily absorbs any a/c current produced by the alternator but not rectified (converted) into d/c current. Electrical components need d/c current to work, but will perform poorly or break down if exposed to a/c current. The battery shields these sensitive electrical components.
On average, when will you need to replace your battery?
Most car batteries will last an average of 4 to 6 years depending on the quality of construction. As the battery is used to start the car and to provide power when the car is not running, the number of starting cycles or key turns is more instrumental to the longevity of a battery than the months or years. Extremes of temperature, engine vibration, worn starter motor and the addition to high draw after-market electronics will also affect the length of useful battery life. Ultimately, the most proactive approach to predicting when to change a battery is to have it load tested when in for other service. A load test will place the battery under similar conditions to how the starter does, where a more accurate measurement of the battery state can be obtained. A battery that falls below 9.5 volts under this dynamic test should be replaced.
What happens if the battery is not replaced on time?
If a car battery is not tested regularly, and not changed when recommended, several consequences will result. The most painful will be the lack of sufficient power to start the car. Jumping the car with another battery can temporarily resolve the problem, if the bad battery can still accept a charge. If the battery cannot hold a charge or if the battery has been drained or discharged fully, the alternator may have to work harder to keep up with the power needs of the car and the attempt to recharge the battery. This may cause a failure or shorten the expected life of the alternator. Moreover, as the battery fails to supply engine off power to systems, keep alive memory, stored figures and numbers will be erased, causing drivability issues (air-fuel ratio calculations, shift points, idle values), where the car will run poorly. In a worst case scenario, key codes could be erased, the anti-theft computer will not recognize a key resulting in a no start until a reset with an appropriate factory computer is performed and values restored.
Most automotive service professionals can perform this service. Keep in mind, pricing will vary by location and your vehicle make and model. Use Openbay to compare battery replacement costs with top repair shops in your area.
Service article written by an ASE Master Technician