Friday Ephemera

For parents-to-be. || Empath. || Oh, brave new world that has such widgets in it. || The young in love. Or in heat, at least. || The thrill of wood steaming. || Fiddlesome games. || Difference noted. || Just like normal people. || Shopping mall scenes. || Unattractive sofa. || SR-72 rumours. “Anywhere on the planet, in an hour, or less.” || Spanish village of note. || Sperm whales 360. || Sticky situation. || Questions exchanged. || An aesthetic statement. || For devotees of the Clown Quarter and its wonders, this is one of these. || Critters. (h/t, Noah Carl) || Scenes of hardcore waitressing. || Only hiring the best, I see. || Error detected. || And finally, somewhat alarmingly, the humanoid equivalent of the Venus flytrap.

Comments

[pst314]

Just like normal people

Those tattoos just shout "sentence me to life with no parole".

[pst314]

Unattractive sofa.

I do wonder who would buy it. Only other "designers"? Trendy stores who want to put something in the window that announces how daring they are?

[pst314]

But why? Texas Firm Produces 8-Track Tapes for Major Labels

[pst314]

the humanoid equivalent of the Venus flytrap

The garage door didn't look all that humanoid...

[Steve E]

the humanoid equivalent of the Venus flytrap.

I thought I heard Suddenly Seymour playing as the door closed.

[Chester Draws]

That sofa will be fine to sit on. It's got a flat level base and perfectly normal level back. I'd happily own it.

There's one line on it that is unusual, but hardly daring.

[pst314]

Yes, the surface you sit on is level, but it's ugly. And the older I get the more I prize beauty over cleverness.

[pst314]

Ghostbusters 3 is so bad that the cable company Comcast/Xfinity lists it as just "Ghostbusters".

[Daniel Ream]

But why?

Promotional gimmick. There's a company releasing sealed NES cartridges of Star Wars games in cardboard blister packs that look like the old 3.5" action figure backs. The cartridges are playable, but removing the cartridge from the package renders it worthless for collector value.

Ghostbusters 3 is so bad that the cable company Comcast/Xfinity lists it as just "Ghostbusters"

That's its actual title, though.

[pst314]

That's its actual title, though.

My God, the conspiracy goes higher than I thought. :-)

[Ed Snack]

Regarding the sofa, it is almost certainly intended as a display item It is a long known retail tactic to put rather outlandish furniture in the display area, but not actually expect to sell those items in any number. You put it in the window to get looks, but out the back, in the stockroom, you have just the usual items that just about everyone usually buys. Can be done with strange designs, bright and garish colours - anything to make it stand out.

But you don't really expect to sell more than one or two of the display items.

That waitress, what she goanna do with it eventually ?

[Megaera]

My father (b. 1916) and his brothers must have been terrifying to raise. In the 1920s they built a 27-foot sailboat (which they later raced on Lake Michigan) in an outbuilding that had doubled as a garage, and found out all wonders of wood steaming (to bend ribs. keel, etc) the hard way. As he told the story they just dismantled the family home's steam heat system, broke down the (probably cast iron) piping and such, sealed ends to create steam chambers, and ran the whole assembly out from the basement into the yard for greater efficiency. No mention how his parents took this innovation, but I'd guess probably in stride. He never mentioned whether they got things reassembled in time for a Chicago winter, but the whole family was pretty hardy so...shrug.

Random recollection: he learned to drive when he was 11 and so small they had to fasten wood blocks onto the pedals so he could reach them. Next year he drove my grandmother to Detroit and back because the family trusted him behind the wheel more than they did her -- and apparently not without reason.

[Sam]

Found another loophole in #BelieveAllWomen

https://mobile.twitter.com/disclosetv/status/1372661804682330112

[NTSOG]

Speaking of women: The Age [Australia] reports "Teen Vogue’s editor resigns after backlash over racist teen tweets."

"Alexi McCammond, who made her name as a politics reporter at the Washington news site Axios, had planned to start as the editor-in-chief of Teen Vogue next Wednesday. Now, after Teen Vogue staff members publicly condemned racist and homophobic tweets McCammond had posted a decade ago [when she was 17], she has resigned from the job."

What goes around, comes around. The woke mob on Twitter takes no prisoners and neither forgets not forgives in its rabid machinations.

[Jen]

The young in love.

Romance isn't dead then. "Full bodi pig" :-)

[JuliaM]

pst314: " And the older I get the more I prize beauty over cleverness."

Seconded! And dislike gimmickry for the sake of it.

[David]

Morning, all.

That waitress, what she goanna do with it eventually?

Oh, I’m sure she has a plan. I get the impression it’s not her first time.

[David]

Seconded! And dislike gimmickry for the sake of it.

Ah, but it’s not just a sofa. It’s a “seating system.” Albeit one that resembles the kind of thing you’d find in a house shared by students, after several parties. I.e., cheap wreckage.

[Fred the Fourth]

Being from an aviation family, I took the opportunity back in about 88 to drop by the San Diego aerospace museum after attending a USB dev conference. They have an A-12 on display outside the front entrance, mounted so you can get very close, and even underneath. Basically the same as the sr71.

Two things really struck me about it. First, it looked very well worn. Lots and lots of high stress mileage on it. (Like some of you lot.) Second, it is tiny. My imagination expected something twice the size, no doubt from all the dramatic photos one finds online.

There are a handful on similar display in the US, easily searchable. Worth a look.

[David]

Lots and lots of high stress mileage on it. (Like some of you lot.)

[ Splutters indignantly, applies moisturiser. ]

[NTSOG]

Splutters indignantly, applies moisturiser.

Now would that be a topical application or an internal application? [Lord Nelson comes to mind in terms of topical application: I believe he was shipped back to the UK post-Trafalgar in a barrel of brandy, presumably due to its 'anti-aging' properties.]

[David]

Can’t talk. Moisturising.

[Fred the Fourth]

Anywhere on the planet in an hour or less...
Hmm. Lowest orbit is about 90 minutes all the way around. 45 to the antipodes.
But that's in a vacuum at 17000 mph. Are we really talking about an sr71 successor at that point?
Plus, imagine the huge skidmark you're gonna make when you try to stop at the destination! (Amusingly, "skidmark" was auto corrected to "skincare".)

[David]

More of this, please.

[Fred the Fourth]

Sam, there's an easy solution for the redacted records. I am reliably informed by Obama's first senatorial campaign that sealed records (e.g. the Ryans' salacious divorce details) must be released to inform the public. Just find the intrepid newspaper that did Obama's task and put them on it. I'm sure they'll get right on it. Democracy Dies in Darkness, eh?

[Fred the Fourth]

Ed,
I was goanna say that the lizard in question was too big, but wiki says some types grow to 2.5 meters, so...

(I'm just lying here waiting for Mrs. The Fourth and our dog to come to bed, hence all this sad logorrhea.)

[Marc]

Hopefully the waitress wasn't dragging the lizard to the kitchen.

[David]

Heh. “Are you sure this is crab…?”

[Mike]

The young in love. Or in heat, at least. || The thrill of wood steaming.

I see what you did there.

[Felicity]

For parents-to-be you’ve triggered me!

[David]

you’ve triggered me!

No refunds. Credit note only.

[David]

Feminist misses point shock.

Via Julia.

[Captain Nemo]

Ah, but she's a strong, independent, empowered feminist woman. So, naturally, she's oppressed by very trivial things. In this case, a mediocre chocolate bar.

[Farnsworth M Muldoon]

Feminist misses point shock.

Not knowing what these are, imagine my shock to find out this twit (feel free to substitute vowels) is offended by packaging that hasn't been used in the last 10 years.

Clicking through...

once i wanted one and my aunt was like “no ur not allowed it” and i thought she meant because i was a girl but actually it was just because it wasn’t gluten free. i didn’t care though that moment made me a feminist.

True story.

[David]

Not knowing what these are,

When I was but a wee seedling, Yorkie bars were advertised on TV with truckers and burly chaps chomping down on them. Because, er, chunky chocolate. (“Good, rich and thick, a milk chocolate brick!”) The more recent “It’s not for girls!” tagline is mocking the brand’s own earlier adverts.

[Farnsworth M Muldoon]

"...a celebration of womanhood and diversity and this celebration of being your true self."

[WTP]

Spanish village of note

I visited a similar town in Italy's Tuscany region. The cliff/ridge it extended out upon was not quite as dramatically high, but very similar. Forget the name though.

[Ted S., Catskill Mtns, USA]

The problem with the sofa is that you can't switch the cushions.

[pst314]

Hopefully the waitress wasn't dragging the lizard to the kitchen.

Tastes like chicken!

[Karl]

“Good, rich and thick, a milk chocolate brick!”

I don't know if any of you have tried a Yorkie Bar recently? I did. It tasted like American "chocolate" and had the texture of soil. A sort of unpleasantly grainy mouth feel. I haven't tried one since.
Bad batch, or a "new and improved" recipe?

[pst314]

Found another loophole in #BelieveAllWomen

Here is one link to the story: Judge rules some details of Ghislaine Maxwell court case are too 'sensational and impure' to be revealed to public. Not sure how much there is to this, but based on the history of the Epstein case there is not much reason to trust authorities.

[David]

I don’t know if any of you have tried a Yorkie Bar recently?

I vaguely remember it was an inferior chocolate bar, tastewise. However, the early adverts implied that female motorists and other passing women would nonetheless be impressed by the stoutness and, er, girth of it.

[pst314]

Found another loophole in #BelieveAllWomen

That link led me to another interesting item:
The German Ministry of Justice presents a draft law that makes the publication of "enemy lists" a punishable offense, exceptions are made for the media and "anti-fascist research work"

Right-wing extremists are constantly publishing lists of their political opponents online. Lists include names and addresses...

But how about anti-Communist research work? And after all, left-wing extremists do this sort of thing too, or are they supposed to be allowed to act with impunity?

[Farnsworth M Muldoon]

Earth and moon fall into black hole.

[pst314]

I vaguely remember it was an inferior chocolate bar, tastewise.

So, a clever marketing campaign to make an inferior product seem more appealing regardless of its objective quality.

[David]

So, a clever marketing campaign

Not sure I’d go that far.

[pst314]

For parents-to-be

There are arguments for not acquiring fine furniture etc until the children reach the age of responsibility. Or leave home. ("Hey, didn't you have your carpets cleaned last month?" "Yes, but little Billy peed on one yesterday.")

[pst314]

They deserve to be the first against the wall.

[Farnsworth M Muldoon]

The person offended by the chocolate bar:

Katy is a feminist, LGBT rights advocate, atheist, metalhead, insect enthusiast and trans woman

So really has no complaint, then ?

[Karl]

Not sure I’d go that far.

Well, they did launch that campaign in 2001. And we're still arguing about it 20 years later. Well, some of us.
Seems pretty effective to me.

[Daniel Ream]

My God, the conspiracy goes higher than I thought.

Given what's been revealed about the film's deceptive marketing, I expect it's deliberate. Rather a lot of marketing thought is put into "how do we make our widget show up before anything else in a Google search" and intentionally giving your crap feminist reboot the exact same name as a beloved classic is a Thing.

editor-in-chief of Teen Vogue [...] tweets McCammond had posted a decade ago [when she was 17]

A 27-year-old editor-in-chief of a major fashion magazine. What could go wrong.

Ah, but it’s not just a sofa. It’s a “seating system.”

I am trying to buy a new couch at the moment and have discovered that the current fashion trend in home furnishings is "ugly as f*ck", for some reason. I found one that was the right size, colour and comfort, save for more metal studs than an angry teenager.

I HATE YOU COUCH DAD

True story.

e. e. cummings would be so proud.

Tastes like chicken!

Alligator actually does taste like chicken, but with a slightly briny note, and has the consistency of scallops. It's quite good, although not worth it if they're not local. Kind of like tourtiere.

sensational and impure

Not even the fig leaf of protecting the identities of victimized children, which is the usual reason for redaction in these kinds of crimes. It's like they're not even trying for plausibility. Why, the ladies might have a case of the vapours, guv.

[Governor Squid]

Second, it [the A-12] is tiny.

It's a hundred feet long and fifty feet wide. If that's tiny, one imagines that you'd need a magnifier to see an F-16!

[David]

I am trying to buy a new couch at the moment and have discovered that the current fashion trend in home furnishings is “ugly as f*ck”, for some reason.

I feel your pain. The Guild of Evil sofa, a once-glorious and still very comfy thing, is looking rather tired and I’m hoping I can find precisely the same sofa, over a decade later, just without the sagging and discolouration.

The gods will no doubt mock me.

[pst314]

The problem with the sofa is that you can't switch the cushions.

Good point. Sooner or later one of them will get stained or damaged.

[pst314]

"And the older I get the more I prize beauty over cleverness."

Seconded! And dislike gimmickry for the sake of it.

I should also have said "functionality", which changes with age: The beautiful and comfortable easy chairs I purchased 35 years ago are now awkwardly low for my arthritic knees.

[Daniel Ream]

precisely the same sofa, over a decade later, just without the sagging and discolouration

Exactly my predicament, with the added annoyance that when putting in LED light fixtures a few years back my condominium dropped the hall ceiling almost 6" in violation of code. Thus ensuring that no standard size couch can be rotated such that it will fit through the door.

I have engaged a holistic detective to assist with the modeling.

[Daniel Ream]

The beautiful and comfortable easy chairs I purchased 35 years ago are now awkwardly low

I am 6'4". I purchased feet extenders for my living room furniture so my knees aren't higher than my ears when I sit. Perhaps you might be able to find something that matches your current furniture? Or have them made if you know a decent wood turner.

[Literally, the tallest womxn in the world]

Forget about China. Forget about the Southern Border. Forget "President Harris". This is serious!

A Title IX Violation has been admitted by the NCAA regarding Women's Basketball!

https://twitter.com/i/events/1372904146303512576

[David]

I purchased feet extenders for my living room furniture

I really need to draw in a younger, more happening crowd. Skateboarders, boom box people. That kind of thing.

[pst314]

I purchased feet extenders for my living room furniture

A great idea, although it won't work for these chairs which have bent wood feet. Sigh.

[pst314]

I really need to draw in a younger, more happening crowd. Skateboarders, boom box people. That kind of thing.

I'm concerned about David. Should we slip sedatives into his drinks, or are more drastic measures needed? [ makes note to buy boom box and set of Barry Manilow albums ]

[cayleygraph2015]

I think the sofa would go well near a patio window in the village.

[Sam]

Alligator actually does taste like chicken

Rattlesnake, too. Tasty, not an ounce of fat, and prep is a cinch*. However it's easy to overcook and become very chewy (alligator as well).

*sourcing, however, can present some challenges

[pst314]

my condominium dropped the hall ceiling almost 6" in violation of code

The standard problem that condominium board members are amateurs, and may not think to do such things as hire contractors who know about building codes?

[Mapp]

sensational and impure

But whatever it was is probably not too impure to include in sex education for twelve year olds, or rap lyrics, or the relationship advice columns of the respectable newspapers colluding in drawing the veil.

Leaving out the details of such cases turns the reporting into nonsense, with reading comprehension impossible, and readers unable to figure out the basic sequence of events, and obvious followup questions disappearing into a black hole.

And then the gap is filled with impure sensationalism anyway, but based on prejudice and agendas instead of the evidence of what happened.

Feminist misses point shock.

I liked Steve's comments here

[Daniel Ream]

I really need to draw in a younger, more happening crowd

I did consider the metal-studded sofa.

[Sam]

Do you really need to attract the young 'uns here David? Do you really?

[David]

Do you really need to attract the young ‘uns here David?

I’m… not familiar with the kind of thing I’m seeing.

[Sam]

Then keep that lovely Chesterton Fence in place, good sir.

[WTP]

A Title IX Violation has been admitted by the NCAA regarding Women's Basketball!

Went to a favorite oyster bar last night where I know the owner, and ex-UF football player whose daughter is playing tennis in the NCAA. Now this is in Florida where Saint DeSantis rules and masks are (supposedly) not required. No fans are admitted, but he being one to not take no for an answer finagled his way in to watch his daughter play down in South Florida (FAU or FIU, I get them mixed up and forget which). He and two people from the other team were the only non-participants present. Here's the real kicker...for doubles play, this is tennis mind you, they have to wear masks. And yes, I do understand that NCAA can overrule but kinda my point. Kinda.

[pst314]

The problem with happening people is that they persist in happening to other people.

[WTP]

And then the gap is filled with impure sensationalism anyway, but based on prejudice and agendas instead of the evidence of what happened.

This. Thought I was the only one who noticed these things.

[Karl]

regarding Women's Basketball

Why do they need their own weight room? Just have a weight room.

Come to think of it why do they need their own team. Just have a basketball team. Problem solved!

[Sam]

Just have a basketball team. Problem solved!

Equity v equality, fascist. Read a book.

[Megaera]

Sam: check out Okeene, Oklahoma to resolve all your rattlesnake sourcing challenges. Years ago Sports Illustrated (I think) did a pretty good writeup on the event -- the opener is a classic.

[Sam]

Thanks Megaera, but I have a policy of avoiding Oklahoma where possible. I attended several Rattlesnake Roundups growing up and honed my complicated love/hate for the creatures early.

[Megaera]

Oddly, I've had more snake encounters here in Virginia than I ever did in Oklahoma or Arkansas; fortunately none were very drastic, but a few got a bit of adrenalin flow started. Good times, good times.

[Darleen]

I’m hoping I can find precisely the same sofa, over a decade later, just without the sagging and discolouration.

If the frame is solid, have it reupholstered. I had a fave wing chair over 30 years old that I finally rescued from banishment in a back bedroom. It looks wonderful and is now comfy (all springs re-tied) and is in the livingroom.

[Daniel Ream]

Just have a basketball team. Problem solved!

Historically this hasn't gone well for soccer.

[Fred the Fourth]

Gov,
Tiny was in the eye of the beholder.
It is almost exactly twice as long as an F16, and the same length as a 737.
I think my imagination had swallowed the monster performance numbers and expected to be overwhelmed.
The surprise was quite real.
True tiny, though, is the A4. I'm only 5'8" 150 lb and I barely fit in the cockpit.

[Farnsworth M Muldoon]

...but I have a policy of avoiding Oklahoma...

Always a wise choice, Opp, Alabama is the place to go for all your rattlesnake and your alligator needs are nearby. It is veritable one shop stopping.

[Bobmark]

We needed new furniture, my wife said no metal studs or animals, she actually bought a nice chair with horses on it and a couch with decorative metal studs.

Also, as an Okie, I'll note that in recent years rattlesnakes have apparently gotten quieter, less likely to rattle as you approach. The noisy ones get caught leaving the stealthy ones to reproduce.

[Governor Squid]

The noisy ones get caught leaving the stealthy ones to reproduce.

There's a Tea Party parable in there somewhere. I'm just sure of it.

[Rick Henwood]

Scenes From A Mall

Because black lives matter

[Daniel Ream]

I'm only 5'8" 150 lb and I barely fit in the cockpit.

Not too far from here is the Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum, proud owner of one of the only remaining flying Lancaster bombers.

I scrimped and saved the necessary donation for a flight in the Lanc only to be told that at 6'4" there was no way they could take me up safely as there wasn't a seat on the thing I could be strapped into.

WWII was fought entirely by midgets, apparently. Brave little souls.

[WTP]

WWII was fought entirely by midgets, apparently. Brave little souls.

Heh. Ever been on an aircraft carrier of that era? Or met any fighter pilots and/or astronauts? At 6'4" myself it is rather disappointing. But wait...at 6'4" you fit into a tank? I'm getting claustrophobic just thinking about it.

[Daniel Ream]

I'm getting claustrophobic just thinking about it.

I have a photo taken at the museum in the cockpit of one of the non-functional photo op fighter planes. My head is completely clear of the cockpit windshield. I look like I'm on one of those 25 cent powered riding toys at the mall.

There's a company in the UK that sells kit planes that are 90% scale replicas of the Supermarine Spitfire. 90% scale?? I'd need a foot on each wing and a rope tied to the yoke.

[JML]

They have an A-12 on display outside the front entrance, mounted so you can get very close, and even underneath. Basically the same as the sr71.

There's a lecture around on YouTube by a former A-12 pilot. He refers to the SR-71 as "the family model". (The A-12 was a single seater).

I've seen the A-12 on that WW2 aircraft carrier in New York Harbour. I would not describe it as "tiny".

[pst314]

"... at 6'4" there was no way they could take me up safely as there wasn't a seat on the thing [Lancaster bomber] I could be strapped into."

Jimmy Stewart was 6' 3", so I guess those B-17's were roomier.
On the other hand, I have read that there were maximum height limits for American fighter pilots in WWII (and through the 50's?)

[Megaera]

Ted Williams wasn't exactly diminutive either -- did the standards vary depending on branch of service?

[pst314]

Ted Williams wasn't exactly diminutive either...

And he was a USMC aviator, which presumably means he must have been a fighter or fighter-bomber pilot--no twin- or four-engine bombers for him and thus no spacious cockpits.

...did the standards vary depending on branch of service?

I think the standards did vary by service. General minimum height and weight for all services. Minimum & maximum heights standing and sitting for fighter pilots. Maximum height for submarine service, I suppose. Less stringent requirements for rear echelon service. And...I can't say more because I don't know much.

[Squires]

Guy I knew in high school wanted to go combat pilot, but was told that at 6'6" he would be flying transports if anything. Ended up going Army and driving a Humvee instead. This was circa '98.

Later knew someone who had to be at least 6' and made it into submarines... for a while. Maximum height might not be as strict a bar there, since there's no cockpit to squeeze into and no G-forces involved.

[pst314]

Later knew someone who had to be at least 6' and made it into submarines.

But I do suspect that WWII subs were more cramped and that therefore there was a more stringent height limit.

Regarding fighters and single-engine fighter-bombers, note how much larger they are than in WWII, which leads me to think height limits have relaxed somewhat.

[WTP]

During a work expo I fit into the flight simulator cockpit for an F-35. I recall asking what the real recruit limit was. Forget the exact answer but since I fit it could have been 6'4" but I think the guy told me 6'2". I was comfortable leg-wise and arm-wise but there was no canopy on the simulator and I didn't have the helmet on either.

[Paul from Canada]

When I went through the aircrew selection centre to see if I was good enough to be accepted as a pilot candidate in the RCAF, one of the guys on my course was failed because his hip to kneecap length when seated was several millimeters too long. The issue isn't always overall height, often it is leg length or torso length.

In the case of my fellow candidate, the issue was that he could not safely use the ejection seat in the basic jet trainer aircraft in use at the time. If he had ejected, he would have left his kneecaps behind. IIRC, his thighs were something like 4mm too long....

[Daniel Ream]

The issue isn't always overall height, often it is leg length or torso length.

Interesting. Much of my height is in my back - I only have a 33" inseam - so perhaps that was it. It's also possible that it had more to do with insurance and liability than anything else.

[Daniel Ream]

Oh, bollocks. Not again.

[Daniel Ream]

One more time?

[Daniel Ream]

Ha.

[Fred the Fourth]

This is the collection of aircraft I'm most familiar with:

https://images-assets.nasa.gov/image/ARC-1981-AC81-0580-38/ARC-1981-AC81-0580-38~orig.jpg

Top right and left are Convair 990, with a C-141 between (Kuiper Airborne Observatory).

Next row Quiet Shorthaul Research Aircraft, a T-38, ER-2, Lear24.
Front row left is the TiltRotor used to test the Osprey v22 concept. Partly cropped at right is the YO3, an ultraquiet platform used to carry microphones to listen to helicopter rotor noise among other things.
Not visible at the left is the Crash Alarm which I set off when I was about 5.