I saw the image before reading the caption and thought, “oh, **Harold **is getting a scolding.” So either:
a) this was a core memory from the '80s that I’ve somehow retained b) Larson always names that guy “Harold” c) I have powers beyond mortal comprehension
I had a professor whose ice breaker question was some version of, “what book do you want to write/planning to write?” Everyone seems to have one.
Might not be as relevant today after blogs perhaps cleared that out of peoples’ systems.
As for me, I cycle through mostly craft-based hobbies. Embroidery, leather work, candle making, 3D printing. I can make candles much faster than I can burn them, so that’s self-limiting. 3D printing is great to have the materials and skills for, and I’m slowly learning to design in Blender. But at the moment I only use it when I suddenly need to have a thing-a-ma-widget and remember: “hey! I’ve got a 3D printer. Of course I can make a valve stem cover!”
I’ll probably be back to leather crafts as we head into the fall and winter.
We don’t even have a photo of this dry sandwich? My curiosity demands it
My friends in Italy have told me that it’s not normal to change your surname after marriage. They could be messing with me, though. They’re mildly evil.
I went from a “normal” western last name that was ethnically coded (like McCoy) to another ethnically coded name (like Nguyen, or - um - Fink).
My options were to keep a common and dull name that I share with people I don’t like, get a new one (that I’d need to spell to every customer service representative ever), hyphenate (HELL NO), or make up something new (which would involve a shitstorm among relatives on both sides.)
The only real options were A and B. I was undecided until we were leaving the county courthouse after we were married. He asked me “are you going to change your name?” He didn’t care. He thought it was a weird custom and was curious. And I realized - this is an opportunity. It’s a relatively easy and socially acceptable way to shed your old name.
I took it.
The new name honestly messes with quite a few people who are meeting me for the first time, and it’s interesting to see how they react. I’ve had people ask straightforward questions (I prefer that - there’s an easy and straightforward answer), get half-way through a straight-up racist comment before they stutter to a stop (helps me get to know them), get all the way through a racist comment (again - helpful to know where you stand), or just not comment at all (just fine by me).
I’ve found that it’s not the worst way to get a read on someone.
tldr: part spite, part novelty, part legitimately helpful when your profession means you need to meet strangers and get a quick read on their personality/potential biases/willingness to be straightforward when there’s no reason to be weird about it
America doesn’t have the capacity to track that in any meaningful way. COVID was proof of this.
I ask my husband this exact question about twice a year. Usually when a cat is staring just past my head. He gets the reference.
My colleagues from Europe are always fascinated by Wal-Mart. They walk the aisles and usually buy an insane printed t-shirt or blanket as a souvenir. They also like to stock up on “American snacks,” so that accomplishes a few things with one trip. Pop tarts, corn chips, maple syrup - just things with a different flavor profile or philosophy of what counts as “food.” And Pork Rinds (aka chicharrones) are fried pig skins. Somehow I can never quite persuade them to get those.
Tex-Mex and BBQ are the two biggest food recommendations for Texas. BBQ may include beef brisket or chicken. If you’re keeping a halal diet, just be aware that these restaurants may incorporate pork into seemingly vegetarian choices, like collard greens or beans.
One tip: you can usually ask a restaurant to make a substitution to a meal and they will be happy to oblige unless it’s integral to the cooking process. For example, you can ask for a bacon cheeseburger with no bacon, but you can’t ask for beans without pork because it’s more like a soup. (Sorry if this seems obvious, but my coworkers from EU are super reluctant or shy to ask for modifications. In the US it’s considered perfectly normal to make this type of request.)
Since Houston is reasonably close to Louisiana, you may be able to find a decent Cajun style restaurant. Very regional and very delicious.
I’ve heard that you can find shark teeth on some of the local beaches, but they also just sell them at Murdoch’s, which is a gift shop in/near Galveston.
Ohio. They’re invasive and only arrived in large quantities here about 6-8 years back. They’re in the Chicago area as well.
it could use a couple of peepholes and an escape hatch. Otherwise, a solid fort.
Spiders, giant spiders, stink bugs, the new type of stink bugs that somehow look grosser than the regular stink bugs, mice… We’re absolutely at that stage right now.
Two humans and four half-way competent cats can’t keep up.
I’ve devised so many stink bug removal devices it’s not even funny. The first was a paper towel tube with a little bag on the other end. Now I’ve got a wide mouth jar with some detergent water in it. A fancy little spoon coaxes them inside. They die quickly.
I agree. OK - he may have been a bit evil, but as always - he was a voice of reason.
This is a really nice idea. Which is refreshing, because my go-to is always something mildly disturbing but not too scary or criminal.
If I were going the wholesome route, I’d add a paper note to the USB or other digital storage, though. If I were to find a LaserDisc from 1990, that would be more or less unreadable without expending some significant effort.
But maybe future folk will have magical devices that can read cassettes, 8-tracks, or whatever.
I’m a big fan of concealing doll heads behind drywall. The local hobby shop used to sell half-heads (just the face and neck, including eyes), so that was my go-to.
It was also a hard to fix drywall job, so it looks a little janky. It’s almost guaranteed that the next owner rips out that section and finds her.
I, too, like a nice bit of cheese.
Right? I know a lot of people who were subject to absolute educational neglect for their K-18. Some lean in, but others have questions.
ETA - and some days I smack myself on the forehead and realize something I should have known at age 8 but it just clicked now.
I don’t like it.
So I remember hearing in HS US history class that one of the arguments against women’s suffrage 100-odd years ago is that married men would now have 2 votes instead of one. This would disadvantage them against bachelors or widowers, who would of course not be able to dictate their nonexistent wives’ votes. Unmarried men would only have the one vote, which didn’t seem fair.
I guess the idea is not a new worry. It just seems like the fretting has reversed its polarity.
“Earthy” if you will.