Randomness

[SuaveStar]

Pretty sure that's scientifically inaccurate, but hey, no one wants to see you rub your junk in public anyway.

We'll let the courts decide.

[bobobob_100]

I have decided Hynden Walsh has the most beautiful voice in existence.

[Venneh]

[Missy]

The one at the bar is so true. I get why woman like Wonder Woman, but ask nearly anyone to name one thing about her character, and they blank. She's one of the worst icons of all time.

[KnightWing]

That's been the opposite of my experience. Every fan of WW I've ever talked to (especially the female ones) immediately lists her gear (the lasso of truth, the bracelets, the boomerang tiara) and her kind-yet-strong attitude. The fact that she's an Amazon sometimes slips through the cracks, but the pro-feminist angle is something everyone remembers. I mean, it's in her theme song. (In your satin tights / fightin' for your rights)

A good friend of mine (around 31, actually kinda resembles Lynda Carter) explained it to me this way:

Before the Wonder Woman TV series, there literally was no female superhero that anyone was aware of. It was always Superman, Batman, and Robin. The attitude in the time period was simply that women weren't good enough to be anything but sidekicks (Batgirl was the only female superhero to ever be seen on-screen at the time, and she was only in one season of the Batman 66 series). But the Wonder Woman series not only showed a female solo hero, but directly addressed sexist sentiments from some of the shows' antagonists.

It's true that some of Wonder Woman's younger fans only really know that she's a female hero and little else, but all of the older and/or slightly better-educated fans know who she is. And let's be fair; there's a lot of people out there who only know that Superman has a red cape, flies, and saves people. I've actually had to explain to a few teenagers here and there that Superman is an alien. And they're not stupid or out-of-touch kids, mind you. They're well-educated, smart kids who just happened to have never seen Smallville or Superman: The Movie. If there's people out there who only know Wonder Woman as the female equivalent of Superman with a lasso, that doesn't mean that she's a bad icon; it means that her importance has been great enough even to extend to the people who haven't seen the show or read any comics.

[Missy]

The thing is, you kind of made my point. You mentioned people like her kind-but-tough attitude, which is fair, but otherwise it was about her gear. Ask them her origin, a single villain, why she fights, why she's in America, and other questions along those lines. Hell, ask longtime comic book readers and, even amongst them, I'd be willing to bet you'd get a round of blank looks.

Yes, she's a true symbol of female strength and feminism, and she's great to rally behind in a male-dominated industry / market. By no means do I intend to take that away from her or her fans. However, her character traits, her core beliefs, and her motivations are unknown to most people. And on that level I do feel she's a terrible icon.

[KnightWing]

I'm not entirely sure that that's as critically important to iconic status, though. Like I mentioned, there's a lot of people who only know that Superman is a guy who flies and has a red cape; they don't know who Lex Luthor is or that Clark Kent is from Smallville.

I do think there's a pretty severe problem with Wonder Woman's story not being well-known, though. It probably comes from the fact that no one's made a big media project about her in a few decades, while we've had five Superman movies and seven Batman movies (eight if you count Mask of the Phantasm's theatrical run). Part of the problem, I think, is the fact that no one other than Lynda Carter ever really understood Diana as a person. It's easy to understand how Clark Kent and Bruce Wayne think, and why they do what they do. But Diana's a little less simple. She probably needs a good story to really give her a singular purpose like her peers, other than to hang out with the Justice League like everyone else.

[Stavros]

http://www.csmonitor.com/USA/2011/0104/Could-you-pass-a-US-citizenship-test/Who-signs-bills

Des pointed this one out on Twitter, a 96 question US citizenship test. I got 82/96, not bad considering I flubbed a couple of easy ones along the way. Oh, and also I don't live there.

[KnightWing]

I stopped halfway through just because it was taking too long to load each page, but extrapolating from that, I should have gotten around a 93/96.

It's a common joke around here that a lot of natural-born US citizens wouldn't pass the test, and that some of the questions aren't even relevant or necessary to know in order to function as a citizen.

[MaxPower]

I was talking to someone who recently took the Australian citizenry test and it was the same thing, they new a lot more about laws and cultural facts than I did. Citizenry tests always remind me of Homer helping Apu - "Now we all know the 13 stripes are for luck, but what do the stars stand for......"

[Stavros]

I stopped halfway through just because it was taking too long to load each page, but extrapolating from that, I should have gotten around a 93/96.

I was 34/35 at one point, they get tougher later on.

[SuaveStar]

So, UK E-2ers who's staying in to avoid the 80MPH winds hitting the country today? It's already violent in Glasgow, with the buses all being cancelled after 2PM (Now to wait for Stavros to make a joke about that ) but yeah, what's happening in your areas?

[Stavros]

Sorry, I can't see the wind, all the motionless trees are in the way.

[slothian]

I'm heading out to watch some professional rugby......assuming it hasn't been called off. It's pretty blustery up here in Newcastle!

[JackFetch]

I feel so sorry for this kid at a Christmas party at work. Red hair and freckles, with a bowl cut, wearing a bright red sweater with a giant Christmas tree on the front. I just want to slap his mom and ask why she wants him to get beat up every day.

[JackFetch]

This guy's email went viral after it was "leaked" to the web.

Hi Lauren,

I'm disappointed in you. I'm disappointed that I haven't gotten a response to my voicemail and text messages.

FYI, I suggest that you keep in mind that emails sound more impersonal, harsher, and are easier to misinterpret than in-person or phone communication. After all, people can't see someone's body language or tone of voice in an email. I'm not trying to be harsh, patronizing, or insulting in this email. I'm honest and direct by nature, and I'm going to be that way in this email. By the way, I did a google search, so that's how I came across your email.

I assume that you no longer want to go out with me. (If you do want to go out with me, then you should let me know.) I suggest that you make a sincere apology to me for giving me mixed signals. I feel led on by you.

Things that happened during our date include, but are not limited to, the following:

-You played with your hair a lot. A woman playing with her hair is a common sign of flirtation. You can even do a google search on it. When a woman plays with her hair, she is preening. I've never had a date where a woman played with her hair as much as you did. In addition, it didn't look like you were playing with your hair out of nervousness.

-We had lots of eye contact during our date. On a per-minute basis, I've never had as much eye contact during a date as I did with you.

-You said, "It was nice to meet you." at the end of our date. A woman could say this statement as a way to show that she isn't interested in seeing a man again or she could mean what she said--that it was nice to meet you. The statement, by itself, is inconclusive.

-We had a nice conversation over dinner. I don't think I'm being delusional in saying this statement.

In my opinion, leading someone on (i.e., giving mixed signals) is impolite and immature. It's bad to do that.

Normally, I would not be asking for information if a woman and I don't go out again after a first date. However, in our case, I'm curious because I think our date went well and that there is a lot of potential for a serious relationship. Of course, it's difficult to predict what would happen, but I think there is a lot of potential for a serious relationship developing between us one day (or least there was before your non-response to my voicemail and text messages).

I think we should go out on a second date. In my opinion, our first date was good enough to lead to a second date.

Why am I writing you? Well, hopefully, we will go out again. Even if we don't, I gain utility from expressing my thoughts to you. In addition, even if you don't want to go out again, I would like to get feedback as to why you wouldn't want to go again. Normally, I wouldn't ask a woman for this type of feedback after a first date, but this is an exception given I think we have a lot of potential.

If you don't want to go again, then apparently you didn't think our first date was good enough to lead to a second date. Dating or a relationship is not a Hollywood movie. It's good to keep that in mind. In general, I thought the date went well and was expecting that we would go out on a second date.

If you're not interested in going out again, then I would have preferred if you hadn't given those mixed signals. I feel led on. We have a number of things in common. I'll name a few things: First, we’ve both very intelligent. Second, we both like classical music so much that we go to classical music performances by ourselves. In fact, the number one interest that I would want to have in common with a woman with whom I'm in a relationship is a liking of classical music. I wouldn't be seriously involved with a woman if she didn't like classical music. You said that you're planning to go the NY Philharmonic more often in the future.

As I said, I go to the NY Philharmonic often. You're very busy. It would be very convenient for you to date me because we have the same interests. We already go to classical music performances by ourselves. If we go to classical music performances together, it wouldn't take any significant additional time on your part. According to the internet, you're 33 or 32, so, at least from my point of view, we're a good match in terms of age. I could name more things that we have in common, but I'll stop here. I don't understand why you apparently don't want to go out with me again. We have numerous things in common. I assume that you find me physically attractive. If you didn't find me physically attractive, then it would have been irrational for you to go out with me in the first place. After all, our first date was not a blind date. You already knew what I looked like before our date. Perhaps, you're unimpressed that I manage my family’s investments and my own investments. Perhaps, you don’t think I have a "real" job. Well, I’ve done very well as an investment manager. I've made my parents several millions of dollars.

That's real money. That's not monopoly money. In my opinion, if I make real money, it's a real job. Donald Trump's children work for his company. Do they have "real" jobs? I think so. George Soros's sons help manage their family investments. Do they have "real" jobs? I think so. In addition, I’m both a right-brain and left-brain man, given that I’m both an investment manager and a philosopher/writer. That’s a unique characteristic; most people aren't like that. I've never been as disappointed and sad about having difficulty about getting a second date as I am with you. I've gone out with a lot of women in my life. (FYI, I'm not a serial dater. Sometimes, I've only gone out with a woman for one date.) People don’t grow on trees. I hope you appreciate the potential we have.

Am I sensitive person? Sure, I am. I think it's better to be sensitive than to be insensitive. There are too many impolite, insensitive people in the world.

I suggest that we continue to go out and see what happens. Needless to say, I find you less appealing now (given that you haven't returned my messages) than I did at our first date. However, I would be willing to go out with you again. I'm open minded and flexible and am willing to give you the benefit of the doubt. I wish you would give me the benefit of the doubt too. If you don't want to go out again, in my opinion, you would be making a big mistake, perhaps one of the biggest mistakes in your life. If you don’t want to go out again, then you should have called to tell me so. Even sending a text message would have been better than nothing. In my opinion, not responding to my messages is impolite, immature, passive aggressive, and cowardly. I spent time, effort, and money meeting you for dinner. Getting back to me in response to my messages would have been a reasonable thing for you to do. In addition, you arrived about 30 minutes late for our date. I'm sure you wouldn’t like it if a man showed up thirty minutes late for a first date with you.

If you're concerned that you will hurt my feelings by providing specific information about why you don't want to go with me again, well, my feeling are already hurt. I'm sad and disappointed about this situation. If you give information, at least I can understand the situation better. I might even learn something that is beneficial.

If you don't want to go out again, that I request that you call me and make a sincere apology for leading me on (i.e., giving me mixed signals). In my opinion, you shouldn't act that way toward a man and then not go out with him again. It's bad to play with your hair so much and make so much eye contact if you're not interested in going out with me again. I have tried to write this email well, but it's not perfect. Again, I'm not trying to be harsh, insulting, patronizing, etc. I'm disappointed, sad, etc. I would like to talk to you on the phone. I hope you will call me back at xxx-xxx-xxxx> (if it's inconvenient for you to talk on the phone when you read this email, you can let me know via email that you are willing to talk on the phone and I'll call you). If you get my voicemail, you can a leave a message and I can call you back. Even if you don't want to go out again, I would appreciate it if you give me the courtesy of calling me and talking to me. Yes, you might say things that hurt me, but my feelings are already hurt. Sending me an email response (instead of talking on the phone) would better than no response at all, but I think it would be better to talk on the phone. Email communication has too much potential for misinterpretation, etc.

Best, Mike

http://www.reddit.com/r/nyc/comments/n1bqg/an_investment_bankers_cover_letter_for_a_second/

[Guest]

Too long, likely fake, didn't read.

[JackFetch]

Too long, likely fake, didn't read.

It's not, and you missed out on the creepiest "why won't you call me" letter ever.

[Stavros]

On the upside I found a place I like that I can move to next month, single apartment, low crime area walking distance from my campus and 5 minutes from a gym in the chain I'm a member at. The downside is the list of other things I've got to do in January. Got an exam on the 4th, a presentation on the 16th, I've got between the 5th and 22nd to move into my new place and out of my old inc setting up internet, bills etc. I've also got dissertation meetings to get through and on top of that I've applied to be part of a project my uni is doing with the BBC on second screen media that starts in, yup that's right, January. Not sure if I'll get it but our tutors only gave out limited invites, not everyone got the chance to apply. Being hand-picked means they chose the one most likely to get it.

So this is a make or break month in my whole life right here. Big grades, big chances, big stress. YAY!

[slothian]

It doesn't help that January's a shitty month in general.

[Venneh]

I will provide cheerleading and alcohol as necessary, Tom!

[Venneh]

[dc20willsave]

[Venneh]

Baking armageddon today. Gingerbread (actual ginger bread) is in the oven, with the mulled wine that's going to soak it simmering on the stove, and next to come are the mint clusters and then blue curacao scones. Dinner will be potstickers and whatever mulled wine I have leftover.

[MaxPower]