Random Thoughts XII - Floccinaucinihilipilification

[The_J]

Today is the French national holiday, also known as Bastille Day. I just came back from a military parade, which is a normal part of this celebration.
Which means...
... the French celebrate the French revolution, one of the origins of modern democracy, by a display of one of the most autocratic and anti-democratic institutions out there (the military)
... the storming of a prison is celebrated by a display of the institution which famously failed to do their job that day.
Strange thing, this holiday.


(just to note, I have absolutely nothing against the military, and am happy that we have dedicated people who'll defend us in the coming apocalpyse, but this was all ironic)

 

[Terxpahseyton]

The French are a funny unique people. I like them. In general I like to view Germany and France kinda as brothers who, God thanks now playfully, side-eye each other, like to compete, and are in a complicated relationship. But truly, they are from the same tree, and united, they would become a force to be reckoned with. But first, Germany would finally have to stop being America's little docile lapdog and start to be an actual nation again. But can't have that because Mustach of course.... sometimes it seems like he ruined all the great fun in being German. Ah well... as the previously passionate Civ4 player, I like to daydream about grand empires

 

[Grendeldef]

Bastille Day is always an exciting day in TdF, too. It's rarely if ever a flat stage and the French riders are expotentially more aggressive than usually. Today it ended in l'Alpe d'Huez which is always especially great.
One thought I've had for years regarding that climb is that I'd like to cycle it myself - ie it's on the to-do-before-dying list the problem being it really isn't a flat ride so likelihood of dying on it is not negligible so I better do few things on the list before attempting that.

 

[Terxpahseyton]

I recently picked up a new healthy habit I welcome all to embrace.

If you spot stinging nettle/Indian burn -> go for it! I walk straight into bushes of them every day now. Embracing the burn. Good for your arteries. Prevents agglutination.

Leeches... also help. Wouldn't go crazy about that... but once in a while certainly won't hurt.

Also, on occasion, long walks in the deep woods coupled with breathing techniques... may do wonders to your lunge.

But never forget that the key component is faith. Fear will destroy you from within. If you can't escape it--- learn to meditate for God's sake!

 

[Terxpahseyton]

To add and stress: Don't be a fanatic about anything I say. Will always corrupt it. It is all in the balance.

 

[The_J]

That might be the wrong advice on a website called "civfanatics" .

 

[Terxpahseyton]

Exactly why I made it

 

[amadeus]

I thought an Indian burn was that thing when you twist the skin on another kid’s arm.

 

[Terxpahseyton]

I got nothing to say but nod in calm distant approval. It is, after all, all about embracing, what seemed alien.

Just so to find out, how alien it really was.

And how non-alien you really were

 

[amadeus]

I’m a resident alien.

 

[BornInCantaloup]

France was involved in almost a 25 years world war after the First Republic was founded and ended up conquering half of Europe (before losing it all).
The first 10 years led to rise of Bonaparte and the Republican Empire indeed became autocratic but... much in the sense of enlightened centralisation and rationalisation. Most of French modern administrative and educative institutions were set in those times. If you know about Bismark, this is the same thing except world war.

So, I for one will spit on the military but there are very good historical reasons why the French Republic is so attached to its own... survival.
Nowadays, sure, there are military marches, but it's mostly about fireworks.

 

[Birdjaguar]

Europe was determined to destroy the French Republic.

 

[BornInCantaloup]

Europe was determined to destroy the French Republic.

Absolutely.
France did have the best natality at the time, because it's such a nice place to grow grain. (Germany and Russia would proceed to surpass it.)
But the children, they just went bleeding.

If you look at French history and population counts, there are some periods, wth.
Poland, our historical ally, is interesting, too. What was the meme already ?

 

[Takhisis]

Poland, our historical ally, is interesting, too. What was the meme already ?

A ball?

 

[NovaKart]

If you were dead would you spend your time talking to people using ouija boards?

 

[The_J]

I would think there should be way more efficient ways than ouija boards. They seem to tiresome.

 

[Terxpahseyton]

Laugh at me if you like..... but I still vividly remember having quite the weird experience with a Ouija board when I was a (literal) child. Just...saying...

Europe was determined to destroy the French Republic.

Good point

 

[Birdjaguar]

Rush Limbaugh’s Home Quietly Shopped
The longtime Palm Beach home of the late conservative commentator Rush Limbaugh is being quietly shopped for sale with an asking price of $150 million to $175 million, according to people familiar with the offering. The roughly 2.7-acre waterfront property, located on Palm Beach’s tony North Ocean Boulevard, includes multiple structures, including a large main house built in West Indies style, according to public records and people familiar with the property. The property has roughly 250 feet of ocean frontage and direct access to the beach, records show. Mr. Limbaugh, a talk-radio icon and a ring-wing media stalwart, died last year at age 70. Records show the property is owned by a trust tied to his widow, Kathryn Adams Limbaugh. Ms. Limbaugh didn’t respond to requests for comment.

Mr. Limbaugh purchased the property for $3.9 million in 1998 through a limited liability company, records show. The main house spans roughly 24,000 square feet, according to the 2010 book “An Army of One” by Zev Chafets.
“Largely decorated by Limbaugh himself, it reflects the things and places he has seen and admired,” Mr. Chafets wrote. The house had a vast salon

meant to suggest Versailles, he wrote. It wasn’t clear if the property has been updated since the book was published.
If it sells for $150 million or more, Mr. Limbaugh’s home will be among the most expensive properties ever sold in Palm Beach.
—Katherine Clarke and E.B. Solomont
The asking price is $150 million to $175 million.

 

[Aiken_Drumn]

$3.8 mill into $150 from '98 to '22.. what growth is that?

 

[Terxpahseyton]

Moderator Action: This is not a health thread or a place to preach. Please stop with such posts.