Death is your art. You make it with your hands day after day. That final gasp, that look of peace. And part of you is desperate to know: What's it like? Where does it lead you? And now you see, that's the secret. Not the punch you didn't throw or the kicks you didn't land. She really wanted it. Every Slayer has a death wish. Even you.

Spike ,'Conversations with Dead People'


Natter 77: I miss my friends. I miss my enemies. I miss the people I talked to every day.  

Off-topic discussion. Wanna talk about corsets, duct tape, butt kicking, or physics? This is the place. Detailed discussion of any current-season TV must be whitefonted.


Toddson - Jul 01, 2021 2:19:21 pm PDT #7453 of 30000
Friends don't let friends read "Atlas Shrugged"

I get irked by the people who've decided they don't want to be vaccinated and then say they're being discriminated against. A hospital in Texas (I think it was) fired a number of nurses, etc., who refused to be vaccinated and they're suing. Bruce Springsteen opened in New York to vaccinated people only and there were unvaccinated people marching outside (closely packed, un-masked) calling it segregation. jeepers


Calli - Jul 01, 2021 2:53:08 pm PDT #7454 of 30000
I must obey the inscrutable exhortations of my soul—Calvin and Hobbs

That's good news, Sumi! I hope the treatment is minimally troublesome and completely effective.

Let's hear it for Bruuuuuuuce! Good head on that man's shoulders. I think I'm gonna queue up Thunder Road when I'm out of this meeting.


sumi - Jul 01, 2021 3:19:35 pm PDT #7455 of 30000
Art Crawl!!!

Those people have a choice & nobody’s preventing them from changing their minds & joining the vaccinated.

In co-vid related news: a colleague has switched from using her home-sewed masks to using these masks which breath a lot better than cloth masks so your face doesn’t sweat as much.


shrift - Jul 01, 2021 3:21:28 pm PDT #7456 of 30000
"You can't put a price on the joy of not giving a shit." -Zenkitty

Great news, Sumi!

I went to the doctor this morning, filled a prescription this afternoon, and I have some homework to do, but at least it's a start on the whole taking care of myself like an adult.

If anyone is low-carbing it and has some good resources or recipes they'd like to share, please give me a shout. My doctor recommended it after I specifically asked. Happy to report that she did not bring up weight gain or shame me in any way about it. I just don't want to replace a good chunk of my wardrobe.

Also, I'm curious to know how Sonic works out.

I will report back after I make the switch!


DebetEsse - Jul 01, 2021 3:52:28 pm PDT #7457 of 30000
Woe to the fucking wicked.

Resume skills sections are the worst. Soft skills doubly so.

I'm applying for a job that I only sort of want, to make sure TPTB will accept me as qualified for the similar Job I actually want, which will come open in the near future.


EpicTangent - Jul 01, 2021 3:55:26 pm PDT #7458 of 30000
Why isn't everyone pelting me with JOY, dammit? - Zenkitty

I am nearing the end of my sentence - I was placed in 24-hour Facebook jail. I am now a repeat offender. A year or so ago, I used the phrase "white trash" (in reference to my cousin, though not to anyone's face) and I was warned. Then I used the phrase "Eat the Rich" (hyperbolically, obvi) yesterday and was placed in jail. So, FB's algorithm alive and well, protecting white and rich folks. Well done.


-t - Jul 01, 2021 4:16:42 pm PDT #7459 of 30000
I am a woman of various inclinations and only some of the time are they to burn everything down in frustration

I have moved my shit from one cubicle to another and there it will sit, lonely and forlorn, until the end of August because our Back in Office day got delayed. I mean, I could go in before then but the magic 8 ball says signs point to no.

And when we do go back it will be 3 days in office 2 wfh (instead of the other way around) with the 2 being Monday and Friday, apparently. The flex part of this flex schedule is eroding. Not that it matters a whole lot to me personally but they went from “we want to accommodate your needs” to “that’s too needy, here’s what’ll happen” pretty fast.


EpicTangent - Jul 01, 2021 4:35:29 pm PDT #7460 of 30000
Why isn't everyone pelting me with JOY, dammit? - Zenkitty

they went from “we want to accommodate your needs” to “that’s too needy, here’s what’ll happen” pretty fast.

Hey, I know that song!


DavidS - Jul 01, 2021 4:49:41 pm PDT #7461 of 30000
"Look, son, if it's good enough for Shirley Bassey, it's good enough for you."

If anyone is low-carbing it and has some good resources or recipes they'd like to share, please give me a shout.

I went on a low carb/high protein diet when I lost 50 lbs, and it's still basically my meal plan though I'm not in hardcore weight loss mode anymore.

Some recipe staples:

Frittatas: Once a week. Sautee mushroom, zuchinni, onion, red bell pepper, whatever you've got in your crisper. Lots of seasoning - whatever you prefer. I use 8 eggs, whisked up, highly seasoned. Spray olive oil in the bottom of a Pyrex 8" pan. Pour in the whisked eggs. Pour in the sauteed veg. Stud with feta or top with cheddar. I make it no meat because JZ eats it, but you could add ham or sausage. Cook in the oven at 450 until done (usually about 25 minutes). It's at least four meals if you eat a whole quarter slice of the frittata. And it's more if you cut it into eight slices and augment it with a little salad, or something. Really easy to make, tasty and supremely easy for the rest of the week.

Meaty, no bean chili: I do a mix of ground beef and Hot Italian sausage. Sautee onions, mushrooms, bell pepper set aside. Brown the beef and sausage (after you take it from the casing). Season the beef. Sausage doesn't need it. (Use about half pound of ground beef, and two big sausage from Whole Foods.) Cook the whole thing in the 12" frying pan instead of a pot.

Drain the fat (My new method is to push the meat to one side in the pan, fold over two paper towels and roll them up, place rolled up paper towel at edge of the meat, tip the pan slightly so the fat runs down into the paper towel. Flip it over once to get it thoroughly saturated. Take out greasy paper towel with spatula, voila. easy).

Add the veg back into the meat. Put in a can of roasted Italian tomatoes. Season it. (I use cumin, cayenne, cinnamon, Urfa Biber, a little brown sugar, Worcestshire sauce, garlic powder - pretty much the whole array. Taste as you go!)

So again you've got something you can use for multiple meals. I vary serving it. Just straight up with some plain Greek Yogurt on top. Or I broil some Trader Joe's bratwust or Aidell's Chicken Apple sausage and have that with chili. Or I reheat the chili in my small 8" omelette pan, and make a well in the middle and fry an egg there. That's really good.

Trader Joe's seasoned chicken thighs: Not a recipe but a recommendation. You can find these in the meat section. I get the Shawarma thighs which are boneless and skinless. I cook it under the broiler in a foil lined pan. Very simple and tasty. Add salt and pepper, Hot sauce. I usually eat it with fresh tomato cut up and drizzled with a bit of Balsamic, S&P, and a bit of hummus. Tastes like a great Mediterranean plate without the tempting pita bread. They also have Pollo Asado, Chicken with Rosemary, Chicken Harissa, and beefy things like Bulgogi. Since it's all prepped and seasoned, it's just really easy to make.

I don't know how you feel about Greek Yogurt but I use that a lot. Make sauces with it. Use it to top the chili. Season it with stevia and add fruit for something sweet. It's high protein and filling and the ProBiotics help too.


sumi - Jul 01, 2021 4:58:12 pm PDT #7462 of 30000
Art Crawl!!!

David - those recipes sound delicious.