Random Thoughts XIII - Radioenergopithecocracy

[Gori the Grey]

I may be at that.

Your article is a little coy on the point:

The database has 19 categories of contexts where pigs make distinctive grunts, including "reunion," "huddling," "surprise," "waiting" and "running" -- but also "fighting" and "castration."

Unless I'm supposed to take "huddling," here, with a wink-wink, "you know what I'm talkin' about."

Or just understand the one you have in mind as among the 12 not mentioned.

For whatever it's worth, people sometimes do "squeal with delight."

Edit: Gori has etymological hunch. Checks out "grumble." Even though it means

Of persons and animals: To utter dull inarticulate sounds; to mutter, mumble, murmur; to growl faintly.

and

To utter murmurs expressive of discontent

OED finds no etymological connection to grunt.

 

[Farm Boy]

Well, the program is only at 80% accuracy even if one takes its developers' word on it. I daresay that's sorta a low bar, albeit automated.

 

[Valka D'Ur]

I just had the most befuddling conversation ever with a pizza guy.

He commented that I had "a lot of movies" (one of my video shelves is opposite the door to the suite). I mentioned they're mostly science fiction, fantasy, and historical drama. He wasn't sure what that meant, so I mentioned my Henry VIII/Elizabeth I movies.

He had no idea who Henry VIII was. I told him he was the father of Elizabeth I. He said he'd heard of Elizabeth II, and asked if Elizabeth I was "her mom".

WTH ARE THEY TEACHING IN SCHOOLS THESE DAYS??? This guy is in his early 20s. He had no clue who I was talking about. I ended up giving him a really condensed history lesson about Henry VIII and his wives and pointed out that this all happened centuries ago.

I realize that Canadian schools focus on Canadian history (I think I sat through Louis Riel about 5 times in elementary-senior high and again in college). But they do teach other places and times as well.

 

[Synobun]

WTH ARE THEY TEACHING IN SCHOOLS THESE DAYS???

Hopefully anything more useful than trivia about monarchs.

 

[Valka D'Ur]

Hopefully anything more useful than trivia about monarchs.

There's a reason why social studies/history classes cover more than the immediate vicinity. It helps students learn about the past and how it contributed to making our present world. It's not actually a trivial thing to learn about how the soap opera of Henry, Katherine of Aragon, and Anne Boleyn led to an upheaval in the church and the resulting consequences on so many aspects of life in the countries that were affected. History would have been different if key events of that time had happened differently or not at all.

 

[Narz]

 

[Valka D'Ur]

I did watch this movie a looong time ago. Bits and pieces were vaguely amusing.

 

[Arakhor]

He'd heard of Elizabeth II?? I know she lived for a very long time and wasn't really present in Canadian culture like she was in British culture, but still.

 

[Valka D'Ur]

He'd heard of Elizabeth II?? I know she lived for a very long time and wasn't really present in Canadian culture like she was in British culture, but still.

Not present? Her portrait was hanging in every government building, every school, in many other places, and she's on our coins and $20 bill (the Charles version hasn't appeared yet). Of course the Royal Family isn't a feature of daily life like they are in the UK, but they're more present than you'd guess, even if it's just a matter of charitable and military patronages, not to mention the ceremonial aspects of life here. The Royal Canadian Mint announced they're releasing a last run of coins to mark her passing - I think they intend this for the toonies. If the Commonwealth dissolves completely, I rather expect Canada will be the last to leave. No matter what the wannabe-Americans say, it's part of our national psyche and would be very hard to give up.

He only mentioned hearing of her because she died. It was major news here. I guess it penetrated underneath whatever rock this guy lives under. It's not that he wasn't friendly and polite - he was, but this is just really bizarre.

 

[Gori the Grey]

I know this is going to be phrased in the form of a question, but it really is just a reflection:

The old Dunkin' Donuts has been changing its logo to just DN KN. Just that. That's fine, for as long as customers remember Dunkin' Donuts. It's just a cutesy nickname. But what's going to happen in a generation, when people don't remember the original reference point? Who would go into a store called DN KN?

Second reflection that's in the form of a question. What does Dunkin' Donuts have against letters? All along they'd dropped the concluding "G," and now they're getting rid of a "U" and an "I" also. (Not to mention D-O-N-U-T-S, which they've also dropped from their name.)

 

[Takhisis]

What if they keep pronouncing it as ‘Dunkin' Donuts’ rather than ‘Dee-en-kay-en’?

 

[Gori the Grey]

I suspect they do pronounce it that way. But what's going to make you walk into a store labeled DN KN, to even give yourself a chance to hear the employees pronounce it?

They got rid of "donuts" by the way, because they wanted to be thought of for other breakfasty items: sausage and egg on a croisssant, e.g.

They can always still have posters in the windows of what they sell (donuts). And if they bake on site (but I think few do), then it will smell like donuts.

 

[Farm Boy]

They have other things besides the pink-glazed and coffee? Seems unnecessary.

 

[Gori the Grey]

PG NC

 

[Farm Boy]

Too early in the morning for that.

I think it took me a decade to realize the stupid red spot on Target was a target.

 

[Gori the Grey]

The absolute genius move in these matters, in my mind, is the L of Staples being a bent . . . staple.

You can buy your office staples here, including . . . staples! :chefskiss:

 

[Kyriakos]

So they can have all the staples without having all of them.

 

[Takhisis]

They have other things besides the pink-glazed and coffee? Seems unnecessary.

There's some chocolate-covered doughnuts that I'd recommend you try, but you'd have to take a plane. (And yes, at the place in question they serve coffee)

 

[Farm Boy]

Tempting! It's worth the heartburn every now and again.

 

[Valka D'Ur]

PG NC

The first thing that occurred to me was "Parental Guidance - North Carolina."

Language is changing in so many annoying ways now. Apparently Pinterest thinks I want to look at "inspo" even when the pictures have nothing to do with the things I actively search for or snag on that site.