The many questions-not-worth-their-own-thread question thread XIV

[Dachs]

Become a steel worker, end up being leader of the trade union, found a political party and run for president!

No way in hell the unions would let some random kid from Fairfax take already-scarce jerbs, much less join a union himself; no way anybody from union leadership would get the credibility to run for major office in America, unless the union was one that didn't matter like the Screen Actors' Guild.

 

[W|M]

He's not going to be like Luiz Inacio Lula Da Silva then...

 

[Dachs]

Obviously not! Besides, there aren't many, if any, steel jobs in the area. Even in eastern Pennsylvania, the steel industry's dying and is being replaced by casinos.

 

[Eran of Arcadia]

Off the top of my head, I can't remember (and my google-fu fails me) where I heard about dark skinned individuals being racists against darker people (despite neither party being "white").

So, is this the white man's fault that dark-skinned individuals hate darker-skinned individuals, or does it play on some fear of darkness that humans evolved?

Does darkness always embody or represent some external force often labeled "evil" or sinister, in most or all cultures?

Or am I reading too much into it? I have a feeling I'm making shallow and sweeping generalizations here...

EDIT: Forget to mention that I might also be wrong in equating darkness with the color black (or dark colors), which might be my source of confusion as well.

I would say in this specific case it would be "the white man's fault", ie that those who are closer to white discriminate against those farther, for their own benefit, because the closer they are to whites the better whites treat them.

Of course . . . my opinion of racism is that a fear or hatred of "the outsider" is potential to everyone, and society only dictates the exact form it takes. So if things had been different it could have been the other way around, and the darker the skin the better. I think that darkness being "bad" has less to do with it than particular cultural and social circumstances.

 

[madviking]

If college doesn't work out for me am I doomed to be a lowly wage slave for the rest of my existence?

Yeah. Probably.

 

[Quackers]

How does an interest become an obsession?
Why do some people who are obsessed seem to enjoy flaunting there obsession?
Should we ignore people who are obsessed in an effort to help them?

 

[Heretic_Cata]

How does an interest become an obsession?
Why do some people who are obsessed seem to enjoy flaunting there obsession?
Should we ignore people who are obsessed in an effort to help them?

1. When their obsession becomes their defining characteristic
2. Because they live very sad lives and need a distraction / because they have a boring personality and want to borrow one / they are aspies who don't want to admit it / OCD kids / other lame reasons. (this can be seen on this forum as well)
3. Shot or ignored. Either way helps them.

 

[aimeeandbeatles]

Question: This was at the beginning of an article printed in a British magazine (New Musical Express). I dont understand whats going on... can someone explain?

Spoiler :

The Piccadilly Hotel in Manchester is an anonymous modern structure slipped neatly inside a multi-storey car park -- an injection of glass and concrete at the core of a wraparound helter shelter. The ethos behind such a building is entirely American, the accent on efficiency and impersonality.
A desk clerk surveys the lobby with a glazed smile. "You're welcome," he parrots awkwardly at every satisfied customer. "You're welcome." The expression grates absurdly. I look carefully at the man's nose, it doesn't appear to be growing.
Around the bar we have some stars tonight, local boys. The hotel is host to a ceremonial dinner and testimonial booze-up in honour of footballer Joe Corringan. There's much hearty banner and slapping of manly shoulders as the famous players mingle with their tight knit mafia of show biz personalities and a selection of thick set men in penguin costumes who resemble off-duty policemen. As snippets of conversation drift nearer, it becomes apparent that they are policemen.
A very large gentleman wheezes towards the bar. He identifies himself loudly as Bernard Manning, all purpose TV comedian and personage. Mr. Manning, fresh from the cover of the morning tabloids where his imminent death was gleefully forecast, gathers his cronies around him and guffaws.
"Aye oop lads," he addresses the bar in general. "Aye oop, bloody press bots have got me bloody dead! Lose seven stone? Seven pounds more like." The Bar erupts sycophantically. Mr. Manning's diet is obviously in abeyance. He's a card.
Across the lobby another party of informally dressed young men amble out the door and get into a large coach. They aren't footballers though. One of them is very blonde, good looking in an angular, undernourished away -- pretty, you might say. The football mafia stare at the intruders and muffled comments pass between them; personal comments and sexual allusions. Fat pink faces distort into a dreadful hallucination and their gaze turns to photographer Anton Corbijn's metal suitcase. Perhaps he's from the Daily Mirror, perhaps we're snooping on their private 'do'. Anton, who is Dutch, doesn't have the faintest idea of what's going on.
He's lucky.

 

[Meteor Man]

My my, what a strange way to write, let's see...people in a bar, laughing about something, I don't know what "private 'do'" is...

I'm about as lost as the Dutchman.

 

[Arakhor]

A "do" is a function, so a private "do" is a private party.

 

[Quackers]

Do alcoholics get hangovers?

 

[ParadigmShifter]

Yes.

Mostly they get the shakes though until they have a drink in the morning.

 

[aimeeandbeatles]

My my, what a strange way to write, let's see...people in a bar, laughing about something, I don't know what "private 'do'" is...

I'm about as lost as the Dutchman.

A "do" is a function, so a private "do" is a private party.

The main part Im confused about is the hallucinations and "sexual allusions"

 

[Arakhor]

I think the sexual allusions part refers to the general round of insults that passes between any group of male friends.

 

[aimeeandbeatles]

Eh, as far as I understand there was a bunch of manly men in there and then some not-so-manly men came in (I know who they are but I cant say) and the manly men are uncomfortable with them. But I dont really understand why they're hallucinating or why the Dutchman is lucky.

 

[Quackers]

Question: This was at the beginning of an article printed in a British magazine (New Musical Express). I dont understand whats going on... can someone explain?

Why do you care?

 

[Xanikk999]

Be honest. Would you eat this? It is called a Balut and is a south east Asian delicacy, apparently.

It is gross. Do not open the spoiler if you are squeamish about seeing cooked chicken embryos. You have been warned.

Spoiler :

 

[shadowplay]

No, probably not. The veiny look of it was enough of a turn-off.

 

[Quackers]

dunno, whatever perf would do i would do

 

[Karalysia]

After graduating college, but not finding a job are you eligible for unemployment benefits? Alternatively, food stamps and other welfare like Medicaid?