Topic: The Chit-Chat Thread

@Heavyarms55 That theory makes more sense than the actual narratives, anyway

As for the other conversation, it may not represent you directly, but that's still just about the most "let them eat cake" attitude possible in terms of being absolutely impractical for I'd say 85% of the population, even if "possible" via programs. In your field maybe it had more practicality, but not for most, enough to offset all involved. But more importantly it's tinged with just the wrong amount of stereotyping of americans and a myopia about underlying problems here. A very common self stereotyping, mind you. That's not to sound jingoistic. I'm the first to say that the shining city on the hill is really just a labor camp. But the idea that an inward looking population not cultured by exposure to the other utopias of earth and not embracing homogenized monoculture, cured by travel elsewhere, is in many ways the opposite of the real trouble. It's the tone of the elite. I'm not suggesting economically you're among the elite, but that your mindset in that regard is one of emulating theirs.

Then again I was supposed to be continuing conversations with you on those lines and haven't had the chance still, so I'll blame myself partly

@Woomy_NNYes That's really cool! It's amazing how much consolidation went on with the railroads in the 60s and 70s. The only one still operating more or less as themselves in original form are union pacific. Everyone else is a merge, or defunct. A lot of companies could never navigate the transition from steam to diesel.... And none of them could navigate the interstate highway project that actively taxed them to federally fund their direct competition. Funny thing is a lot of that rail real estate would be much needed today. As online kills retail, freight rail is doing better than it was in the 20s! Most of that "free ground shipping" is going by rail for the major hops.

@Anti-Matter Nope. You think you do, but that's just an illusion created by the aliens. Every time you think you are playing them it's actually the aliens using you in some experiment.

@NEStalgia I'm not gonna lie. It took me a minute to realize which narratives you were talking about. XD It depends on the game, but I kinda agree.

@Heavyarms55
Are you... delusioning ? 🤨
What's wrong with you ?

@Anti-Matter It was a joke dude. I was being silly.

@Heavyarms55 Just heard Japan is canceling schools for the month of March and wondered how that impacts you?

@HobbitGamer Currently staff is scrambling like chickens with their heads cut off to figure it out. This month is the end and beginning of the school year here. Normally there'd be tests, graduation from JHS (a big deal here) entrance ceremonies etc etc...

Far as I can tell, there's no plan. I don't even know if I am supposed to come to work or not.

@Heavyarms55 Oh man. Hate that you don’t have any info. Hopefully you learn something soon! Be safe.

@HobbitGamer Thanks. Personally I'm not all that worried about anything. Yes the virus is scary and dangerous, but 200 cases out of 130 million people? I've been more worried I'd not keep my sarcasm under control around the students and make another end of the world joke. Which admitted wouldn't be cool.

@Heavyarms55 - Yeah, your students might think you’re delusioning again.

@NintendoByNature - Outta nowhereeee!!!

@bimmy-lee Most definitely. Part of the problem here is that a lot of people don't realize how much a professional website or application can cost to develop and maintain. That's not to say I think people should have to pay out the wazoo for something decent, but the danger here is that such services, to please people, become undervalued. As much as I dislike some companies like Apple, they really know how to take advantage of brand power and thus keep their product value high.

@Heavyarms55 Same here. I mentioned Digimon earlier; I've tried watching some of the reruns subbed, but it just isn't the same. I'm sure if I hunted down other shows that I enjoyed like Cardcaptors/Cardcaptor Sakura, Yu-Gi-Oh!, Pokemon (though I know this was highly edited....Before I knew what rice balls were, I legit thought the Pokemon world had these crazy doughy donuts with a big black stripe in the middle; I really wish they had just been honest there), Medabots, Megaman NT Warrior....

@Heavyarms55 somewhere the word "jenova" is going to enter this thread and explain everything kinda.

@NEStalgia I'll just use my usual scapegoat and blame everything negative on US politics.

@Heavyarms55 Oh don’t worry, I’m failing to contain myself. I’m more concerned right now with things sinus infections from massive pollen, influenza, whatever mold is lurking in my office tiles, or poisoning from the galvanized pipes in our office bathroom rusting from the inside.
It’s cynical, but as I’ve said before; once you get dysentery in the modern age in a modern country, you learn some things are worse than respiratory illness 🤣

@HobbitGamer I once had a serious case of salmonella food poison. I could eat nothing but water and dry crackers for over a week after spending about 48 hours expelling what felt like everything I had ever eaten, from top and bottom, at the same time. I would rate that far far worse than any respiratory illness I have ever had.

Though my father once had pleurisy with pneumonia, which sounded like literal torture. He said it literally felt like sand paper grinding the inside of his chest with each breath. The hospital had to use medicine that was so strong to dull the pain that my mother had to sign for it and they wouldn't tell me what it was called - just that it was based on morphine.

@Heavyarms55
Are you still at Japan ?
How was the situation over there ?

@Anti-Matter Yes, I am. Last I heard it was around 200 cases of the virus - not counting those on the cruise ship. The Prime minister "suggested" (ordered) all elementary and jr. high schools to close for the next few weeks. Which is probably a good idea. But the schools seem to have had no real plans in place for this and don't actually know what to do. It's not clear how they're gonna handle it. Only students told to stay home? Classes cancelled but what about graduation and entrance ceremonies, which would have been in March? Club activities? High school entrance tests and make up tests? What are parents who work supposed to do? What are us teachers and other staff supposed to do?

Lot's of questions and no answers. While I think it's right to take the virus seriously, and even that it is better to over react than to take risks, it really feels like those at the top didn't think this plan through.

I just finished watching that WWE Super ShowDown main event, and I have to say it was awful! Bray Wyatt The Fiend, who has been hyped by the WWE company for a whole year, gets his whole career destroyed by a 53-year-old man(Goldberg). I like Goldberg, but they must let the new blood take charge! They have to let the fresh talent take the helm, and they should not keep bringing back old school stars.

Sorry for derailing the conversation, I just needed to get this off my chest.

@bimmy-Lee what ya know.. beat the guy on my first try just a few minutes ago and only had to play the final boss about 10-12 times before beating him. Guess I needed rest 😋.
@MsJubilee GOLDBERG GOLDBERG GOLDBERG. Just kidding but in all seriousness, when I was watching the wwe a few years ago, I wasn't crazy about bray Wyatt. Not sure what it was. He just reminded me of a poor mans Mick Foley/ mankind. No offense if you like him though. But i do see what you're saying, Let some new talent take the helm.

The couple of times I've had food poisoning, it thankfully wasn't severe. I've learned to not touch the potato salad at one of my favorite eateries though; I think it sometimes sits out on the salad bar for too long.

The worst I've ever felt from an illness is a toss-up between the pneumonia I've mentioned before and a very bad stomach bug I contracted in college. I don't mind discussing the latter, but it's a bit graphic for the squeamish.

@Tyranexx I feel ya on that. I never eat potato salad or egg salad unless it's from a store that makes it daily. The worst part is now potato salad is probabaly ruined for you 😑