unixknight

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Posts posted by unixknight

  1. So I've been studying Russian off and on since high school.  I'm already fluent in Spanish and wanted to branch out.  I mean, I've heard of people who know a dozen languages, so getting into a third can't be so bad, right?

    So I have been feeling pretty confident and decided to look online for a pen pal in Russia.  I did find one, and she is also studying English.  She suggested a live chat on the phone.

    And this afternoon, I discovered just how awful my Russian still is.  *sigh*  Ah well.  Could have been worse, I suppose.  I guess I need to spend more time with Duolingo than I have been..

  2. On 7/21/2019 at 8:05 PM, NeuroTypical said:

    GAAAAH!  

    Curse you, CBS All-Access-Pay-Monthly-to-watch-TV!   Curse you with something very Klingon!

    StarTrek: Discovery (moving into season 3)
    StarTrek: Picard (now with sassy 7 of 9 finally not in her bodysuit)
    StarTrek: ShortTreks (like ST, but short)
    StarTrek: Lower Decks (new animated show, will it stink?)

    Fine.  You win.  I'll pay your stupid monthly subscription thing in order to watch all this.  I am not happy.

    Don't do it!  Don't encourage this behavior!

  3. 2 minutes ago, JGarcia said:

    I know I am and that's why I am kind of hesitant to tell the bishop I am not ashamed of my son I am ashamed of myself. 

    But hopefully I will be able to be honest and he will understand me

    I hope so too, man.  Sincerely.  You don't want to use a lie to get a recommend.  Just be honest.  You won't regret it.  I know it's scary, but you can do it.  It'll be worth it, I promise.

  4. 1 minute ago, JGarcia said:

    Because I don't see him or pay for him.

    So... not meeting that responsibility means the responsibility doesn't exist?  That isn't how it works, brother.

    1 minute ago, JGarcia said:

     It's just I am not sure I can commit to being his dad yet. I don't want to see him a few times and then not see him again 

    As I said, you're his dad already.  But until you actually do something about that, you're being a very poor one.

  5. Just now, JGarcia said:

    It's just that I don't have any current obligations to my son. I do want to be honest but I feel really uncomfortable about it. 

    You don't?  How do figure?

    Just now, JGarcia said:

    I know kind of but I want to wait a while longer before being a dad as I am not ready. 

    Define "ready."  Because every minute you use that as a reason to not do anything for your son, you're choosing yourself over him.  

  6. 11 hours ago, JGarcia said:

    I am unsure how to resolve it though. I can't reverse that I have a son and I don't want to tell the bishop that I have a son if it will be a barrier for me going to the temple. I do want to be honest but I am nervous because I don't know a way that I will be forgiven if I tell my bishop. 

    So you're thinking... what?  You'll just keep quiet about it, lie when asked about being current with your obligations, and still expect to be worthy?  Not a good plan.

    11 hours ago, JGarcia said:

    I have a mixed emotions about it because I want to leave it in my past that I have a son and move on from it. But at the same time when I am ready to be a dad I want to be involved in his life. 

    You're a dad whether you're ready or not, bro.  The only choice you have is whether to be a good one or a bad one.

  7. Late to the party with an unpopular view.

    I have a real problem with this.  Gonna be blunt here, and I mean no offense to anybody.

    I really think the "but it's a public health risk" argument is WAY overblown.  The vast majority of people are vaccinated, yet people sometimes talk about anti-vaccine adherents as if they're the harbingers of the pandemic that will be the doom of all humanity.  They aren't.  It's just not that big a problem.  No, it just isn't.

    Honestly... I think in most (not all, but most) cases it's a natural human instinct to want to impose control over others.  Libertarianism is the antithesis of this urge, while authoritarianism indulges it.  The vaccine issue is a way we can feel good about imposing control on others, and that's why even a significant chunk of the Libertarian movement are on board.  It's really, really easy to support curtailing someone else's liberty if you can do it with a good, convincingly emotional argument that has a dash of "it's science!" behind it.

    Sorry to be more blunt than usual.  I'm not pointing fingers at anybody and I haven't read the thread, so please take no offense.

  8. On 6/6/2019 at 11:09 AM, Mores said:

    OK.  With the hoopla behind Youtube v Steven Crowder, I'm finding it difficult to understand why there isn't just a conservative platform like Youtube (Facebook, Twitter). There must be some barriers to entry that we're not aware of.  Why wouldn't anyone be doing it?

    Dave Reuben is partnering with Jordan Peterson and they're working on that very thing.  He's starting up some kind of Internet venture and has strongly hinted at its nature.

    As has been said, there are alternatives but the problem with things like Bitchute is the same as problems with Gab and Minds...  When they say "free expression" they MEAN it.  There's some nasty stuff on those platforms that you have to navigate through, which we aren't used to seeing on  YouTube.

    Plus, certain financial institutions have begun to refuse to do business with conservative outlets.  You know how Patreon started dumping content creators like Sargon of Akkad?  (Who isn't even a Conservative...  I guess the cause of free speech makes conservatives of us all.)  Well, SubscribeStar is an alternative that's being used, but you can't use PayPal with it because PayPal won't do business with organizations that don't punish thoughtcrime.

    On 6/6/2019 at 11:09 AM, Mores said:

    I don't see Crowder (or anyone else for that matter) suing Youtube for banning them or demonetizing them for made up rules that were never part of the original agreement.  And because there is a contract violation involved, I tend to think that suing would be a reasonable course of action.  But no.

    What is it that I'm missing?

    There's almost certainly wording in the contract that either allows YouTube to change the rules at their discretion, or the wording is vague enough that it doesn't really mean anything.  Bill Richmond is looking into it though.

  9. On 5/28/2019 at 8:52 AM, Mores said:

    Was there one?

    Everyone points to Christopher Reeves.  And, sure it had great effects for the time.  And the storyline worked for the 70s (or 80s?).  But nothing about the movie has aged well.

    Yeah the 1979 Suprman movie was pretty awesome.  If you're into long form video essays, I recommend Moviebob's "Really That Good" analysis of the film for why it worked so well.  I won't say it aged well, because it was a product of its time, but it does stand as an awesome film.

  10. 37 minutes ago, Mores said:

    One argument for disallowing abortions resulting from rape or incest from a legal perspective is the "me too" movement.  It has generated FARR too many false accusations.  Men are having their lives ruined simply because a woman does not want HER name dragged through the mud for the things she chose to do.  So, she drags someone else through the mud.

    If you're going to make it legal, make it legal.  If you're not going to, be VERY careful about what exceptions you're going to allow because of unintended consequences.

    From a moral position, I've known a few women who have the moral fortitude and desire to preserve life to say,"I don't care if I die through this pregnancy.  I simply could not bring myself to terminate the baby."  Praises be to such women.

    I used to be politically on the side of making exceptions in cases of rape/incest,  but I stopped because of exactly this problem.  If somebody wants an abortion badly enough, they'd now be incentivized (sp?) to  falsely accuse someone.  And as much as I wish I could believe that such incidents would be vanishingly rare, We already have a problem with retroactive accusations of rape these days with no incentive at all.

  11. 1 hour ago, Midwest LDS said:

    I hope there is an exception for ectopic pregnancies which are impossible to save.

    I haven't read the text so I don't know, but I'd be very surprised if there weren't a provision for cases like that under the umbrella of "medically necessary."  Otherwise I'd call that a serious oversight.

  12. 1 minute ago, Maureen said:

    But I also admitted I was exaggerating to make a point.

    I'll offer you (and anyone else reading this) a piece of sincere friendly advice:  You may want to avoid doing that until you've built up enough of a rapport with someone that they'll know how to take it.  Human communication is 20% words and 80% body language.  Without the body language component we're going to communicate at 20% effectiveness at best, which means we will always tend to take each other's words at face value unless we have reason to do otherwise.  It's the best we can do.

  13. 3 minutes ago, Mores said:

    But that seemed to me an explanation for this forum (specifically addressing WoW items) not that he actually gave that explanation every time he declines.

    Yeah I explain the reason when asked. If people don't ask, I assume they don't care so I leave it at that.  In practice, declining coffee results in people asking why about 99% of the time so there it is.

  14. 1 minute ago, Vort said:

    I found much the same thing with my good Muslim friend in grad school. He did ask about things, eventually, usually in the lab, but there was no drama or amazed expressions, just acknowledgement of my beliefs.

    Btw, I'm with Mores in wondering about the white wine. If anything, alcohol is more strictly prohibited in Islam than in our own religion. Maybe there was a miscommunication going on there; I would think any Muslim who was faithful enough to observe Ramadan would be much too faithful ever to drink wine. Or is Ramadan a cultural thing for your friends, rather than religious?

    I'm not really sure.  As I think back on it, my co-worker may have only been drinking water, as I was.  I didn't pay very close attention so my initial statement that "everybody else" had wine may have been mistaken.  His friend (also Muslim) had some but I think for him it was more about the culture.  The person who had the most was another co-worker of mine, a Baptist.  

  15. 25 minutes ago, Maureen said:

    You said you usually give an explanation as to why you can't partake, your religion. I was being hyperbolic to make a point. Don't bother with an explanation, just say "No thanks".

    M.

    What I said was "when I say I'm unable to partake in those things because of my religious beliefs, they understand completely and that's that."  Nowhere did I say anything that could reasonably be interpreted as "giving a big speech," as you accused me of doing.

    And yes, I will bother with an explanation because I am asked why.  That's still not the same as "giving a big speech."

    Whatever hostility or pre-conceived assumptions you may have, please don't lay them on me.

  16. 31 minutes ago, Maureen said:

    Here's a thought. Next time you find yourself in company that offer you food or drink you don't want to partake in. Instead of offering them a big speech as to why you can't partake, just say "No thanks" and maybe that will help you avoid the criticism and eye rolling.

    M.

    Why would you assume I make some kind of speech?  Is this lecture based on that assumption? 

    @Midwest LDS hit the nail on the head.