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little_details

(no subject)

Nov. 8th, 2009 | 04:44 pm
posted by: [info]winterthunder in [info]little_details

Hi all,

I have a character taking a train from Kiev to Kolomyya, Ukraine, and I'm trying to figure out what she would see as the train approaches the station in Kolomyya. At the moment I have this line, which is based off of several searches in Google Images, Flikr, Photobucket, etc.

"The rolling farmland outside the window gradually sprouted buildings and turned into the less savory view that always seems to characterize the portions of cities near railroad tracks."

Long shot, but is there anyone here who has entered Kolomyya by train? Am I reasonably close, or completely off base?

Thanks!

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little_details

Cheering for Football & Baseball teams in NYC in the 1960's

Nov. 8th, 2009 | 04:04 pm
mood: confused
posted by: [info]kuriadalmatia in [info]little_details

Where: Commack (Long Island), New York. US
When: Main Character was born in the mid-1950's to Italian-American family. Story takes place in 1985.
Situation: Main character is having a conversation with a colleague from Chicago about sports teams that they cheered for as kids.

My character was born in the mid-1950s and lived in Commack, NY until he was 18. Would he have been a fan of the New York Giants football team, even if they had didn't make the playoffs from 1964 to 1980? Or would he have been a Jets (Titans of New York) fan even though the team didn't exist until 1960?

What about baseball? In the late 1950's, both the NY Giants and the Brooklyn Dodgers moved out West. The NY Mets didn't actually start playing until 1962. Would he become by default, a Yankees fan?

From my research, I know that a Yankeets/Jets fan is a rare combination, since the Jets and the Mets are considered more of the "working class" teams.

As far as my Chicagoan, I know that North Siders are generally Cubs fans and South Siders are generally Sox fans. If my MC lived in Philly, it wouldn't have been a problem either.

Research: I checked the tags for 1960s, sports, new york; http://forums.newyorkjets.com/showthread.php?t=2777; Wikipedia: NY Giants, NY Yankees, NY Jets, NY Giants, Brooklyn Dodgers. Google: sports teams in NYC, traditional fans. Other: fan blogs, etc.

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little_details

Extrapolation of invertebrate eating habits

Nov. 8th, 2009 | 06:13 pm
posted by: [info]sabotabby in [info]little_details

It's yet another deeply disgusting insect question! My apologies in advance.

Setting: Horrific alternate universe/hell dimension with a serious pest control problem.
Googled: Insect digestive enzymes, insect vomit, etc. Much of which yielded gross results, but not the gross results I'm looking for.

cut for squeamish )

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foxfire

(no subject)

Nov. 8th, 2009 | 06:24 pm
posted by: [info]foxfire

You know, you never hear of atheists gunning down a bunch of people.

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philosophy

(no subject)

Nov. 8th, 2009 | 08:01 pm
posted by: [info]promeny in [info]philosophy

This isn't exactly an orthodox question for this group, but I figured that if anyone had the answer to it that it would be you guys, so I will ask it.

The question is this: is a degree in Philosophy worth getting? Additional questions: what types of jobs could one get with a graduate degree in Philosophy? If you have an M.A. in another field, could you in theory skip the B.A. in Philosophy and get accepted into a graduate program instead?

I'm thinking about maybe going into Philosophy a couple years after I get my M.A. in May, depending on various factors.

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bad_rpers_suck

lowering the standards is not the answer

Nov. 8th, 2009 | 08:50 pm
posted by: [info]catastrofuck in [info]bad_rpers_suck

Look. I get that you really, really, really, really, really, REALLY, ZOMG FUCKING REALLY want to join my game. I do. You IM me the second I sign on and don't shut up about it until I flat out tell you that I can't review your app until the other mods sign on and you're going to have to wait. And even then you still poke me every once in a while to check the status. But let's face it. This is #3 that we rejected.

First rejection: you admitted that you didn't read any of the info pages and rules, you were overexcited, and zomg, there's just so much of it to read! And omg WAH WAH WAH I'M SUCH AN IDIOT PLEASE DON'T HOLD THIS AGAINST ME IT'S JUST SO HARD.

Second rejection: no you definitely read it this time, promise! some of it. you don't remember what. but you definitely read. skimmed the things you weren't sure were important for sure. there's just so much of it! WAAAAAAH I CAN'T BELIEVE THIS HAPPENED TWICE, I FEEL SO STUPID.

Third rejection: don't try again. No, really. You're not reading shit, and you're not absorbing anything. The FIRST TIME you were rejected, I gave you four links: the outline (less than a page in MS Word), the world info (two pages in MS word), the rules (less than a page in MS word), and the class rules for the class you are bound and determined to play (a page in MS word). That is ALL you need to know to get approved. All you need to do is submit an application that doesn't directly contradict everything in those pages. So stop whining at me. IMing me with a paragraph of caps about how stupid this game is making you feel is not going to change my mind. In fact, it confirms in my head that this is not the game for you.

Above all else, IMing me and telling me that we require too much reading and it's all just too hard and I should consider 'dumbing everything down' isn't gonna do it either. We've been running a year with a large group of players, and over a hundred characters that had no problem with it whatsoever. This is not rocket science. It's just not the game for you.

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foxfire

(no subject)

Nov. 8th, 2009 | 05:44 pm
music: Gary Numan · Listen To My Voice
posted by: [info]foxfire

Christmas music at Starbuck's. Christmas decorations at Walgreen's. Already. Al-fawkin'-ready. Can't these shimmering bongoheads wait until at least Thanksgiving to start shoving their Christmas crap down America's collective throat? Shite. Guess not. Fawkin' capitalists.

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matrexius

To live and die on the chessboard

Nov. 8th, 2009 | 08:16 pm
music: Tenacious D - City Hall
posted by: [info]matrexius

1. One of my friends in the department has been trying to get me to play him at chess for like a year, and he finally managed to get me to go to the campus chess club on Wednesday. It's not terribly big, but all the people there seem pretty cool, and they're all roughly around my strength. That's good; playing someone much better than you is no fun, because nobody likes getting slaughtered. Conversely, playing someone much weaker is also no fun (unless you really dislike that person), because it's not challenging at all. While I've forgotten most of my openings, my tactical abilities are evidently just mildly rusty, so that's good. Time to start actually playing again, now that I have some folks to play! Oh yeah, and I beat my friend twice, bwahaha.

2. Last night, Dina and I watched To Live and Die in L.A.. I picked it up years ago for ~$4 in a bargain bin at Best Buy, based on the fact that it had an interesting premise and a 30-year-old Willem Dafoe as the villain. Also, CSI's William Petersen plays the main character. And yes, I did say a 30-year-old Willem Dafoe - the movie is from 1985, so you can just imagine what the soundtrack is like (mostly Wang Chung, who, I just found out, aren't even fucking Chinese, the cheeky bastards). It was a lot of fun, and it features a spiffy car chase up the wrong side of the highway, complete with an endless stream of bad guys just showing up out of nowhere with guns. That made me happy, as I love car chases in movies (I know, I know, my taste is so highbrow).

3. As of ~8:45 a.m. last Friday, my Separations class is complete. This means that I have just three in-class exams remaining, ever (my Bioanalytical final this semester and a midterm and a final in Microfab next semester). Not that I'm counting or anything.

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hellmutt

Black Dog Twittering on 2009-11-09

Nov. 9th, 2009 | 01:00 am
posted by: [info]hellmutt

View the original post at Black Dog Blog

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bad_rpers_suck

I know, its Gaia... but...

Nov. 8th, 2009 | 05:22 pm
mood: confused confused
posted by: [info]socksicuteme in [info]bad_rpers_suck

Okay, so I know having RP as an interest on my Gaia profile is asking for trouble, but this was just too much.

Here's the abridged gist of what went down:

Girl: Hai ther!  Wanna join my Twilight RP?!  Your profile says you like RP!

Me: I do like RP.  But I really do not like Twilight, so I decline.  I hope you find some good players though.

Girl: How can you not like Twilight?  Are you actually a boy?!  You aren't supposed to lie about your sex on Gaia you know!  I'm reporting you, its against the contract!

Me: I don't think they'll do anything based on me being a girl who isn't into Twilight.

Girl: Well you must be a boy!  Any real girl is totally into hot vamps.

This is about where I point out that on my profile it states I hate Twilight, and that they aren't actually vampires IMO. Things went down hill fast from there, and it degenerated into her typing in all caps, bold, red, large font that I was a fucking hoe, that only hoes like real boys (seriously WTF?) and Edward was the only guy for her, good luck with my diseases. etc. etc.

All because I told her I had a real guy in my life, a fiance nonetheless, and I was quite satisfied by him.

Seriously, why?  How do I attract all the Twilight FANATICS on Gaia?


Edited for typos

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What Really Happened on Apollo 13?

Nov. 8th, 2009 | 09:51 pm
posted by: [info]universetoday

Apollo 13 crew reflects on the mission from David Meerman Scott on Vimeo.

Hear the story of what really happened on Apollo 13 from two of the astronauts who were on board, Jim Lovell and Fred Haise. Lovell provides great detail on the history of the oxygen tank and why it exploded, and both Lovell and Haise have some great stories to share about the flight, movie inaccuracies and more. Thanks to David Meerman Scott from Apollo Artifacts who took this video at the Kennedy Space Center at the Astronaut Scholarship Foundation event on November 6, 2009.

Also on Apollo Artifacts, check out a video of short speech by Neil Armstrong who gave a tribute to the Apollo 12 crew at the flight's 40th anniversary gala on November 7, 2009.


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Surviving 2012: Ian O'Neill on Discovery Channel Sunday Night

Nov. 8th, 2009 | 09:25 pm
posted by: [info]universetoday

ian_oneill
Our very own resident expert on 2012, Dr. Ian O'Neill will be on a special Discovery Channel show, premiering Sunday evening. I just saw a promo piece on the Discovery Channel, and it looks really great. On TV, they called it Surviving 2012, however online it is titled Apocalypse 2012. On his blog, Astroengine, Ian says that science is the focus on this show, (unlike the idiotic Nostradamus nonsense on another channel). As you probably know, Ian is now the producer over at Discovery Space, (and doing a bang-up job!) but he still posts on UT now and then. His series of articles on 2012 are outstanding, and are some of our most popular articles, so I can't wait to see him debunk the nonsense on television. The Discovery Channel in my area (US Central Time) says 8 pm, but check

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<p class="ljsyndicationlink"><a href="http://www.universetoday.com/2009/11/08/surviving-2012-ian-oneill-on-discovery-channel-sunday-night/">http://www.universetoday.com/2009/11/08/surviving-2012-ian-oneill-on-discovery-channel-sunday-night/</a></p><p class="ljsyndicationlink"><a href="http://www.universetoday.com/?p=44415">http://www.universetoday.com/?p=44415</a></p><p><a href="http://www.universetoday.com/2009/11/08/surviving-2012-ian-oneill-on-discovery-channel-sunday-night/ian_oneill/" rel="attachment wp-att-44416"><img src="http://www.universetoday.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/11/ian_oneill.jpg" alt="ian_oneill" title="ian_oneill" width="138" height="150" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-44416" /></a><br /> Our very own resident expert on 2012, Dr. Ian O&#039;Neill will be on a special Discovery Channel show, premiering Sunday evening. I just saw a promo piece on the Discovery Channel, and it looks really great. On TV, they called it Surviving 2012, however <a href="http://dsc.discovery.com/tv-schedules/special.html?paid=1.403.26090.0.0">online it is titled Apocalypse 2012.</a> On his blog, <a href="http://www.astroengine.com/?p=6876">Astroengine</a>, Ian says that science is the focus on this show, (unlike the idiotic Nostradamus nonsense on another channel). As you probably know, Ian is now the producer over at <a href="http://blogs.discovery.com/space_disco/">Discovery Space</a>, (and doing a bang-up job!) but he still posts on UT now and then. His <a href="http://www.universetoday.com/category/2012/">series of articles on 2012</a> are outstanding, and are some of our most popular articles, so I can&#039;t wait to see him debunk the nonsense on television. The Discovery Channel in my area (US Central Time) says 8 pm, but check <a href="http://www.universetoday.com/2009/11/08/surviving-2012-ian-oneill-on-discovery-channel-sunday-night/a%20href=" dsc.discovery.com/tv-schedules/special.html?paid="1.403.26090.0.0&quot;">your own local listing</a>. And if you miss it Sunday night, check for repeat showings later in the week. Go Ian!</p> <hr /> <p><small>&copy; nancy for <a href="http://www.universetoday.com">Universe Today</a>, 2009. | <a href="http://www.universetoday.com/2009/11/08/surviving-2012-ian-oneill-on-discovery-channel-sunday-night/">Permalink</a> | <a href="http://www.universetoday.com/2009/11/08/surviving-2012-ian-oneill-on-discovery-channel-sunday-night/#comments">No comment</a> | Add to <a href="http://del.icio.us/post?url=http://www.universetoday.com/2009/11/08/surviving-2012-ian-oneill-on-discovery-channel-sunday-night/&amp;title=Surviving 2012: Ian O&#039;Neill on Discovery Channel Sunday Night">del.icio.us</a> <br/> Post tags: <a href="http://www.universetoday.com/tag/2012/" rel="tag">2012</a>, <a href="http://www.universetoday.com/tag/ian-oneill/" rel="tag">Ian O'Neill</a><br/> </small></p> <p><small>Feed enhanced by <a href='http://planetozh.com/blog/my-projects/wordpress-plugin-better-feed-rss/'>Better Feed</a> from <a href='http://planetozh.com/blog/'>Ozh</a></small></p> <p><a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~a/RXQsNx6NzRGmo75Wr4-JAzIvMgE/0/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~a/RXQsNx6NzRGmo75Wr4-JAzIvMgE/0/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a><br/> <a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~a/RXQsNx6NzRGmo75Wr4-JAzIvMgE/1/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~a/RXQsNx6NzRGmo75Wr4-JAzIvMgE/1/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a></p><div class="feedflare"> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/universetoday/pYdq?a=0LsC0NXn3yo:D1uNngcEZMY:yIl2AUoC8zA"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/universetoday/pYdq?d=yIl2AUoC8zA" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/universetoday/pYdq?a=0LsC0NXn3yo:D1uNngcEZMY:dnMXMwOfBR0"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/universetoday/pYdq?d=dnMXMwOfBR0" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/universetoday/pYdq?a=0LsC0NXn3yo:D1uNngcEZMY:7Q72WNTAKBA"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/universetoday/pYdq?d=7Q72WNTAKBA" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/universetoday/pYdq?a=0LsC0NXn3yo:D1uNngcEZMY:D7DqB2pKExk"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/universetoday/pYdq?i=0LsC0NXn3yo:D1uNngcEZMY:D7DqB2pKExk" border="0"></img></a> </div>

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bwinter

Ded of Krolock

Nov. 8th, 2009 | 11:27 pm
posted by: [info]bwinter

In Oberhausen. Just saw the git (no, not that git. The other other git. I have a lot of them) play Krolock, finally.

Review upcoming. For now, let it suffice to say that my lifelong ambition to see a Krolock fall into the orchestra pit has finally been realised, at least for values of Krolock-leg, Krolock-cloak, and frantic clutching at the ledge ♥

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faux_philosophy

the "humanity check"

Nov. 8th, 2009 | 02:23 pm
posted by: [info]nanikore in [info]faux_philosophy

http://scr.im/1xln

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bad_rpers_suck

(no subject)

Nov. 8th, 2009 | 04:45 pm
posted by: [info]ohsockofsocks in [info]bad_rpers_suck

I'm interested in her having possibly been a slave when she first came to America, or (and this is just an idea) having been bought by an abolitionist-type in the South.


I didn't know 'abolitionist-types' were the ones buying slaves. Also, good job trying to gank a plot that's already been done once in game. You just keep trying to attach yourself to that one character and jump your ass on the angst wagon.

I'm also confused as to why Bast is childishly calling people stupid and posting pictures of Edward Cullen...

/annoyed and random post is annoyed and random.

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libertarianism

Religious NON-taxation; a 'modern' view and QUESTION

Nov. 8th, 2009 | 01:35 pm
posted by: [info]lucy_chronicles in [info]libertarianism

This morning I went to the Mega-church 3 blocks away from my new abode. It was on my list of experiences of the 'Leaving America, must do' visiting contemporary events of these times particularly avoiding them having lived in Texas for several years.

http://www.centralchristian.com/onlinecampus/

I was completely DUMBFOUNDED by the mass media show to mass consumerism from bookstore, coffee shop, online donations, videos, Universities to "Neon Faith" (this is Vegas) movement - better than some of the shows i've seen on the strip complete w/ banal Christian rock band.


AND THESE GUYS PAY NO TAXES!!!!. L. Ron Hubbard, founder of Scientology and mass-sci-fi writer fame, had it right apparently from statements of forming one's own religion as the ultimate business model. What prosperity would each family in America be able to experience if we didn't have to pay any taxes like these folks? I've known of people who have followed the 'in-solo-corp' model never filing income tax or paying sales tax again as it's all for their 'church' etc. but they're usually way under anything close to $100K.... and then there was the internet site we all joined during the dotcom boom for small dollar shits' n' giggles, getting others to join - man, if i had 10 more i could have been a SAINT!



So, Discussion... I sincerely doubt given the lack of separation between church and state in this country that there will ever be a change in the tax code for these folks despite the fact that our founding fathers never foresaw the boom in christian businesses to mass-book sales, religions intertwined w/ parties and Religious PACS as major forces, nor would they have seen Churches as the 'ultimate business model' (well, there was the Catholic Church & church of England but that's a whole other discussion) but this just doesn't seem 'fair' whatsoever. I'm reminded of my Grandparents stopping through Jim & Tammy Faye Baker ala' Jesus-land complete w/ Jesus water slide while enroute through on vacation to see us sometime in the 80's before the big 'fallout.' And then all the beggars around ornate, ancient cathedrals worldwide... topics in themselves...



But bottom line question - why shouldn't we tax them at some small amount in the States as the REST OF US = individuals to legit 'for-profit' businesses - are being practically taxed to death?


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little_details

Travelling by foot: approximate time?

Nov. 8th, 2009 | 12:04 pm
posted by: [info]crossandbones in [info]little_details

Alright, so.

Current event summery: Apocalypse is being had. A gifted priest and a demon travel from Japan to Israel and along their way aid those who need to get to sanctuary points and spread Word. They've made it through China and just hit Long Son, Vietnam. The next sanctuary point is St Josephs Cathedral in Hanoi. There's a small school that has been kept together under the protection of a passed Matyre. Within are a little over thirty children and a few parents who, unlike other times have not been found by another guiding angel and need to be taken from Long Son to Hanoi.

Requested information: What is the general distance between Long Son and Hanoi and how long would it take to walk it? Minding that there are children, shit's flying everywhere, everything is in a fighting messy chaos, fire, doom, etc.

Googled: Looked up, or tried to, distance between Lang Son and Hanoi. And failed. I found some blogs though that said it took two days or so biking. I am denser than a block when it comes to Atlases and reading the distance ratio but I think it's about 100Miles. Also, my friend said that it's about 5H's on a train. Not sure what his sources are on that one, but.

I think a reasonable guess would be a week, or somewhere around there. I'd like a little more input on this decision, however.



Thanks in advanced peeps.
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little_details

Rough neighborhoods, ethnic neighborhoods, Strasbourg (FR)

Nov. 8th, 2009 | 01:08 am
posted by: [info]arantzain in [info]little_details

Setting: Strasbourg (France) and Kehl (West Germany), 1950's to the present.

Searched: Copious use of Google Earth and Google Maps; Perry-Castaneda map library via UT Austin; Lonely Planet Guidebook section for Strasbourg and Alsace; Lonely Planet board searched "Strasbourg"; googled "maps", "Strasbourg", "bad/rough/dangerous areas"; Wikitravel. Also looked at what crime reports were available, without much enlightenment. Haven't checked to see if there's a "crime" section in the local paper, but my French probably isn't up to the challenge.

Question: I've turned up some anecdotal evidence that Hautepierre is a rough area now; Wikitravel also indicates that areas to the south and west of the main city are depressed areas, but this last is rather vague. (Elsau? Further out?)

Personal experience suggests that the area around a university is always seedier, but that doesn't seem to be the case in Strasbourg--at least according to Street View.

Via Google Earth, I did turn up signs of graffiti and abandoned lots and warehouses near the port, along the east bank of the city. Still, I could use some more concrete information.

So--where are the rough areas in the cities of Strasbourg and Kehl? I understand that "rough" is relative, here. Nonetheless, there must be somewhere in the city that isn't safe at night!

Bonus Question: What about ethnic neighborhoods? I'm told the area around the Synagogue has a concentration of Jewish businesses and services; I've also seen Neuhof and Neudorf typed as "historically ethnic," though bless me if I can find the source now.

Thank you all in advance for any help you can provide!

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little_details

Medieval miscarriage that leads to infertility

Nov. 8th, 2009 | 02:10 am
posted by: [info]chibirhm in [info]little_details

Setting/Timeframe: Unspecified "medieval" semi-fantasy

For plot-related reasons, the following needs to happen in my story; woman is pregnant, miscarries either in the second or third trimester, is unable to conceive afterward. My questions are as follows:

1. What would cause the miscarriage?
2. What would cause the infertility? Would it be the same thing as what caused the miscarriage? 2.5. Or is it conceivable that, in a setting with extremely crude medicine, she could either catch an infection or have scarring from delivering the fetus?
3. Is this scenario even plausible in the first place?

Google and Wikipedia are of no help, as my question is far too specific, and the wikipedia articles are all assuming the pregnancy is taking place in modern day.

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loltheorists

(no subject)

Nov. 8th, 2009 | 04:09 pm
posted by: [info]mothwentbad in [info]loltheorists

So, this has been going around:

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