Ugh no, consuela. Bad cocoa seems like an affront.

There's a version of strep going around here that manifests in puking, so be careful.

I was going to say something about this on tumblr, but realized I'd rather say it here: [link] It's 100% true that you guys fill the role in my life that my mother's church plays in hers!

That seems about right, Jesse. Interestingly enough from my viewpoint with all the cons now and the constant access to the "talent" that fandoms have they are more flash in the pan and flighty. Often more about the "talent" than the product. I cannot imagine that we would have formed as solidly if there had been twitter and tumblr.

Yup.

One of the things that I retained from some history class or other was that whatever period we were looking at (18th or 19th century Europe, probably) was marked by a transition from people belonging to a community determined mostly by geography and class towards people belonging to societies determined by shared interests and/or goals that might cut across class and span greater geographical areas, and that seems to be even more true today.

That's interesting, msbelle.

ETA: I should read Bowling Alone, I think it might help me solidify some of my ideas about this stuff.

One of the things that I retained from some history class or other was that whatever period we were looking at (18th or 19th century Europe, probably) was marked by a transition from people belonging to a community determined mostly by geography and class towards people belonging to societies determined by shared interests and/or goals that might cut across class and span greater geographical areas, and that seems to be even more true today.

Oh, that's really interesting!

I think Bowling Alone is actually bullshit?

Not chili, but a delicious pork stew with beans and corn.

C loves to make chili, but he does it wrong. No beans. No corn. We finally convinced him to try some black beans in the last batch after Kelly and I basically said that we would eat what he had made but it was NOT chili. He has decided that black beans are ok, so next up we work on corn.

I think Bowling Alone is actually bullshit?

Maybe? Seems like it should be part of my literature survey if I'm going to develop my thesis, anyway.

Your definition of chili is strange to me, Suzi. I don't object to beans and/or corn as ingredients, but to require them seems odd.

I didn't realize until I was in my 30s that chili without beans was a thing (my chili is very very beany). And while I love corn, I don't think I can support corn in chili.