Culture

[Legacy]

More details emerge on latest sex abuse allegations against Cardinal McCarrick (Crux)

Unfair to generalize on all priests, but there was certainly a well-documented culture of covering up these type of acts worldwide.

Lately, in Australia, I don't think Cardinal Pell has yet gone to trial, though Archbishop Phillip Wilson has been found guilty of covering up the child sex abuses both by other priests as well as by those higher up. For anyone else, they are charged with the abuse as well as those who knew and abetted the crimes charged with the complicity.

 

[wizards8507]

Theybies. THEYBIES!

 

[Bishop2b5]

Theybies. THEYBIES!

I still have a lot of anger and resentment toward my parents. They pigeonholed me as a human instead of raising me as a species-neutral universal being and didn't give me a choice and allow me to be who or what I really am deep down inside. I want to come out to the whole world as the real me... a coral. Inside, I'm just a happy lump attached to a nice rock in a warm sea, waving my little fronds and filtering organic debris from the water. #youcantchooseforme #buildingmyownreef

 

[loomis41973]

Theybies. THEYBIES!

Sick freaking people.

 

[Wild Bill]

Sick freaking people.

Theybie sick people.

 

[zelezo vlk]

This is pretty much what I was picturing in my mind when I saw the skyscrapers being constructed all over CDMX:

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="und" dir="ltr"><a href="https://t.co/WAPpIja0Wa">pic.twitter.com/WAPpIja0Wa</a></p>— The Midwest Classicist (@TClassicist) <a href="https://twitter.com/TClassicist/status/1019644761823698945?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 18, 2018</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>


Versus the Cathderal...

 

[BGIF]

This is pretty much what I was picturing in my mind when I saw the skyscrapers being constructed all over CDMX:

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="und" dir="ltr"><a href="https://t.co/WAPpIja0Wa">pic.twitter.com/WAPpIja0Wa</a></p>— The Midwest Classicist (@TClassicist) <a href="https://twitter.com/TClassicist/status/1019644761823698945?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 18, 2018</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>


...

Jenga!

 

[connor_in]

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-conversation="none" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">That awkward moment you realize that San Francisco banned plastic straws before they banned defecating and urinating on the sidewalks....&#55357;&#56900;</p>— Greg Wilson (@MrBiggreg) <a href="https://twitter.com/MrBiggreg/status/1021970081931317250?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 25, 2018</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

 

[Irish YJ]

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-conversation="none" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">That awkward moment you realize that San Francisco banned plastic straws before they banned defecating and urinating on the sidewalks....��</p>— Greg Wilson (@MrBiggreg) <a href="https://twitter.com/MrBiggreg/status/1021970081931317250?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 25, 2018</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

I really don't care about straws, but there are larger fish to fry... I think straws are something like 0.03% of the global plastics waste problem. Sounds more like a way for the woke to show how environmentally conscience they are while they sip from their bottled water. I rarely use straws so no biggie, but banning cocktail swords is just going too far.

Santa Barbara just OK'd jail time for straw violations.....

 

[Wild Bill]

This is pretty much what I was picturing in my mind when I saw the skyscrapers being constructed all over CDMX:

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="und" dir="ltr"><a href="https://t.co/WAPpIja0Wa">pic.twitter.com/WAPpIja0Wa</a></p>— The Midwest Classicist (@TClassicist) <a href="https://twitter.com/TClassicist/status/1019644761823698945?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 18, 2018</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>


Versus the Cathderal...

Modern architecture is soulless.

 

[greyhammer90]

Modern architecture is soulless.

Yeah the apartment buildings of the 16th century really stir something within me.

Yall are hipster AF

 

[zelezo vlk]

Modern architecture is soulless.

Not sure if I shared it here already, but a very accurate quote I purloined from Wrath of Gnon's Twitter: Modern architecture is fit only for dynamite.

Yeah the apartment buildings of the 16th century really stir something within me.

Yall are hipster AF

Or perhaps we recognize that there was a beauty in the vernacular architecture found everywhere in the West until about 200 years ago.

 

[connor_in]

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Here’s what needs to be controlled, obviously…what say you?<a href="https://twitter.com/RealJamesWoods?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@RealJamesWoods</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/AdamBaldwin?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@AdamBaldwin</a> <a href="https://t.co/o5lv9b2HLR">pic.twitter.com/o5lv9b2HLR</a></p>— Robert Saucier (@RobSKY63) <a href="https://twitter.com/RobSKY63/status/1022563894387253248?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 26, 2018</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

 

[Irish YJ]

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Here’s what needs to be controlled, obviously…what say you?<a href="https://twitter.com/RealJamesWoods?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@RealJamesWoods</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/AdamBaldwin?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@AdamBaldwin</a> <a href="https://t.co/o5lv9b2HLR">pic.twitter.com/o5lv9b2HLR</a></p>— Robert Saucier (@RobSKY63) <a href="https://twitter.com/RobSKY63/status/1022563894387253248?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 26, 2018</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

In Santa Barbara, each straw gets you jail time. If you hand out a bunch of straws at a kid's party, you're potentially looking at more time than a rapist.

 

[Bluto]

Interesting interview with Jaron Lanier

https://www.recode.net/2018/7/27/17...dia-book-kara-swisher-too-embarrassed-podcast

“I wasn’t the first to point out these dangers. I would date that back to Norbert Wiener in the very early days of computation, and he was worried about exactly these sorts of societal effects in a book called “The Human Use of Human Beings.” That you could set up a computer to be like a automated behaviorist to manipulate people and it would eventually become so cheap to do that you could create an insane, dysfunctional, unhappy society pretty easily.”

 

[zelezo vlk]

Sounds about right

 

[Bluto]

Modern architecture is soulless.

Not all of it. Two of the most beautiful structures I have ever seen were at Taliesin West and Cosanti. The McMansions that surround both sites that are trying to mimic Italian Villas on the other hand are some of the most ridiculous structures I’ve ever seen given the context in which they have been placed. Anyhow, most modern construction is pretty pathetic and soulless. That has more to do with the structuring of our economy and infrastructure and housing being a “commodity” more so than anything else in my opinion.

 

[Irish YJ]

Yup. and on that topic, FB did a huge face plant yesterday. Hopefully the social media BS has peaked and some folks will take a step back and join reality once again.

 

[Old Man Mike]

No chance.

Our society from about high school age to the early forties is having "fun, fun, fun" with constant noise in their ears and a "lack of attention to detail" as a famous Coach would say.

The only reason that they get away with this semi-conscious behavior (and its incompetency) is the muscular abundance of The Systems of our techno-economy, which can cover up their mediocrity.

Not all of us in that age group are like that of course, but one wonders if the Systems can carry these shadetree employees (let alone the truly poor) in perpetuity or even a few more decades.

If I were a parent of young kids, I'd explain the opportunity that this mediocrity gives them. The harder work and focus (with just a modicum of self denial --- a near-extinct USA virtue) should elevate them into the far-more-impressive-and-ready employee category. You won't have to be elite to succeed mightily in the near future, just mentally active, disciplined, and willing to get after it.

 

[Irish#1]

Interesting interview with Jaron Lanier

https://www.recode.net/2018/7/27/17...dia-book-kara-swisher-too-embarrassed-podcast

“I wasn’t the first to point out these dangers. I would date that back to Norbert Wiener in the very early days of computation, and he was worried about exactly these sorts of societal effects in a book called “The Human Use of Human Beings.” That you could set up a computer to be like a automated behaviorist to manipulate people and it would eventually become so cheap to do that you could create an insane, dysfunctional, unhappy society pretty easily.”

Yup. and on that topic, FB did a huge face plant yesterday. Hopefully the social media BS has peaked and some folks will take a step back and join reality once again.

I would applaud that, but don't see it happening. The people who would benefit the most are either too young to understand or to stupid to realize what is happening to them and/or don't care.

 

[Wild Bill]

Not all of it. Two of the most beautiful structures I have ever seen were at Taliesin West and Cosanti. The McMansions that surround both sites that are trying to mimic Italian Villas on the other hand are some of the most ridiculous structures I’ve ever seen given the context in which they have been placed. Anyhow, most modern construction is pretty pathetic and souless. That has more to do with the structuring of our economy and infrastructure and housing being a “commodity” more so than anything else in my opinion.

Agreed for the most part. When you're putting economic value and efficiency above all else, you can't expect a different result.

I think there is something more to it, though. Grey's response touches on a couple of the issues. We have somehow accepted this mentality that building reflections of our inner soul is somehow a "hipster" mentality, and that the common man has no use for, or doesn't appreciate greatness and beauty within their own community. I reject that outlook. Everyone, whether they realize it or not, prefers to be surrounded by something more than economically efficient hideous structures with no character. Being surrounded by ugliness or emptiness is demoralizing and affects individuals more than most ever consider.

Soulless architecture isn't limited to housing. For the most part, and there are exceptions like you pointed out, this soulless style we've adopted extends to basically everything we create - commercial buildings, residential buildings, places of worship and most forms of art. I don't understand how anyone could prefer this modern "style" but I do understand we all have our own preferences. I also understand that economics, efficiency and utility are factors to be considered with respect to some structures. That isn't lost on me. That said, I think we can make some strides for the better if we didn't mock others for expressing their desire to see greatness, beauty, craftsmanship, or we didn't dismiss criticism of seemingly irrelevant structures. For instance, the structure in the picture isn't an "apartment building" to me. It's an enormous structure that dominates the skyline, and will be a huge part of the community now and in the future. Rather than mock those who wish to be inspired by this type of structure, mock those who wish to build the structure with one goal in mind - profit maximization.

 

[greyhammer90]

Agreed for the most part. When you're putting economic value and efficiency above all else, you can't expect a different result.

I think there is something more to it, though. Grey's response touches on a couple of the issues. We have somehow accepted this mentality that building reflections of our inner soul is somehow a "hipster" mentality, and that the common man has no use for, or doesn't appreciate greatness and beauty within their own community. I reject that outlook. Everyone, whether they realize it or not, prefers to be surrounded by something more than economically efficient hideous structures with no character. Being surrounded by ugliness or emptiness is demoralizing and affects individuals more than most ever consider.

Soulless architecture isn't limited to housing. For the most part, and there are exceptions like you pointed out, this soulless style we've adopted extends to basically everything we create - commercial buildings, residential buildings, places of worship and most forms of art. I don't understand how anyone could prefer this modern "style" but I do understand we all have our own preferences. I also understand that economics, efficiency and utility are factors to be considered with respect to some structures. That isn't lost on me. That said, I think we can make some strides for the better if we didn't mock others for expressing their desire to see greatness, beauty, craftsmanship, or we didn't dismiss criticism of seemingly irrelevant structures. For instance, the structure in the picture isn't an "apartment building" to me. It's an enormous structure that dominates the skyline, and will be a huge part of the community now and in the future. Rather than mock those who wish to be inspired by this type of structure, mock those who wish to build the structure with one goal in mind - profit maximization.

1. You took my comment much more seriously than I intended. Is a joke.

2. There's a difference of degree between "mocking those who express their desire to see greatness, beauty, craftsmanship" and making a joke about the comparison of a 15th century cathedral and a random apartment building that probably won't see its own bicentennial.

 

[connor_in]

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Boys amateur football club beats women's pro team 9:0. Tweets the result. Being forced to delete tweet and has to apologize for it. Next year it<br>will have to apologise for winning.<a href="https://t.co/OTsMU6FA45">https://t.co/OTsMU6FA45</a></p>— victorymonk (@victorymonk) <a href="https://twitter.com/victorymonk/status/1023740420407185408?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 30, 2018</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-conversation="none" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">The deleted tweet: <a href="https://t.co/XfVxcf2mux">https://t.co/XfVxcf2mux</a> <a href="https://t.co/FnAkWgqQxh">pic.twitter.com/FnAkWgqQxh</a></p>— victorymonk (@victorymonk) <a href="https://twitter.com/victorymonk/status/1023776572837224449?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 30, 2018</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

 

[Old Man Mike]

This is of course a sticky wicket: Everybody with any sense of reality knows that in any athletic contest involving speed and muscles and explosiveness that our ladies are at extremely low odds of being able to compete (almost no matter what their skill set is.) We guys should, however, recognize this and "keep it to ourselves" rather than rubbing it in.

In college basketball programs, many teams have a volunteer guys group who come to practice and simulate top upcoming competition which the womens second team cannot approach. These guys are schooled in what NOT to do during the workouts --- especially regarding jumping and sprinting. This includes skying for shot-blocking. It also includes in-the-box muscling for rebounds.

I've watched the whole social dynamic at WMU during the Ron Stewart era. The guys (a bunch of intramural types none taller than 6'2") were very well behaved, but once in a while one would forget and sky for a "BAM" climactic rebound. The nearby girls would just turn away, often heads down. I played pick-up ball (at age 35 as a random 6-foot never-played-in-college academic prof) against a MAC player of the year and scored painfully easily (just by superior muscle and mass) the first two times down the court --- so I just quit doing that.

If there are any guys who don't get this, they don't really cherish our girls the way that I do and believe all true men should. THEY CAN'T COMPETE IN THESE KINDS OF WAYS WITH US --- and don't bring up Billy Jean King vs the idiot Bobby Riggs --- Tennis keeps the athletes separate and lowers the advantage of explosiveness and power so that a top female can beat an over-the-hill skilled male. No male has any reason to boast about winning in BBall or Soccer or Track etc over women. Win and smile gently and shut up.

Now the original post was about YOUNG boys, so OK they are still socially unaware knuckleheads, so they shouldn't be blamed for anything either --- this is just a teaching situation for them. The only screw-ups in this situation are the gossip mongers who want to turn this into some sort of festering sore.

 

[Irish#1]

.

 

[Legacy]

Portland has been the scene of increasing violence with clashes between the alt-right groups and the anti-fa. The last one by Patriot Prayer based across the river in Vancouver, Washington with the announced intention of demonstrating for freedom of speech was June 30, which police describes as a riot.
Portland Police revoke permit, declare riot as protesters clash downtown

How Liberal Portland Became America’s Most Politically Violent City

The violence with each demonstration by neo-Nazis has gotten worse. As a result, Homeland Security has classified these a "domestic terrorism".

This Friday, Patriot Prayer will have a demonstration which they have moved from outside Federal Plaza - the site of previous demonstrations - where weapons are not allowed to the Waterfront Park where those with a valid Oregon concealed handgun license are allowed to carry. Both groups look to start fights despite a heavy police presence in full riot gear.

Oregon gun law had been interpreted that self-defense laws included the requirement to retreat or avoid violence if possible prior to using deadly force. However, in 2007, the Oregon Supreme Court in State of Oregon v Sandoval determined that retreat and avoidance of violence, if possible, were not stipulations in their gun legislation nor limited to home defense.

ACLU Oregon - Your Right to Protest

 

[zelezo vlk]

Bahaha

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Fun game for a Sunday night: school? Or prison? What is it? <a href="https://t.co/VVtCK18Y1n">https://t.co/VVtCK18Y1n</a></p>— Wrath Of Gnon (@wrathofgnon) <a href="https://twitter.com/wrathofgnon/status/1023567914694144002?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 29, 2018</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

 

[Bishop2b5]

https://www.msn.com/en-us/lifestyle...an-he-cheated-with/ar-BBLh2A8?ocid=spartanntp


I like this law. I've long thought that it's too easy to divorce and that if you cheat, you should walk away with nothing. In this case, the man who had an affair with another man's wife got sued and the aggrieved husband just got awarded $8.8 million.

 

[NorthDakota]

This is of course a sticky wicket: Everybody with any sense of reality knows that in any athletic contest involving speed and muscles and explosiveness that our ladies are at extremely low odds of being able to compete (almost no matter what their skill set is.) We guys should, however, recognize this and "keep it to ourselves" rather than rubbing it in.

In college basketball programs, many teams have a volunteer guys group who come to practice and simulate top upcoming competition which the womens second team cannot approach. These guys are schooled in what NOT to do during the workouts --- especially regarding jumping and sprinting. This includes skying for shot-blocking. It also includes in-the-box muscling for rebounds.

I've watched the whole social dynamic at WMU during the Ron Stewart era. The guys (a bunch of intramural types none taller than 6'2") were very well behaved, but once in a while one would forget and sky for a "BAM" climactic rebound. The nearby girls would just turn away, often heads down. I played pick-up ball (at age 35 as a random 6-foot never-played-in-college academic prof) against a MAC player of the year and scored painfully easily (just by superior muscle and mass) the first two times down the court --- so I just quit doing that.

If there are any guys who don't get this, they don't really cherish our girls the way that I do and believe all true men should. THEY CAN'T COMPETE IN THESE KINDS OF WAYS WITH US --- and don't bring up Billy Jean King vs the idiot Bobby Riggs --- Tennis keeps the athletes separate and lowers the advantage of explosiveness and power so that a top female can beat an over-the-hill skilled male. No male has any reason to boast about winning in BBall or Soccer or Track etc over women. Win and smile gently and shut up.

Now the original post was about YOUNG boys, so OK they are still socially unaware knuckleheads, so they shouldn't be blamed for anything either --- this is just a teaching situation for them. The only screw-ups in this situation are the gossip mongers who want to turn this into some sort of festering sore.

Nothing wrong announcing the results of a game.

 

[Irish YJ]

Nothing wrong announcing the results of a game.

Nope.

It's the hypocrisy however that bothers me. I absolutely love strong women, and love watching our women's national teams, etc... But find it silly that we are all "supposed to know" we are better physically, but at the same time "hide" the results because it was against a female team and we need to perpetuate this silly "everything he can do, she can do" crap. And that different-sex practice squads are suppose to play down to a certain level as to not "frustrate" the other. I grew up with a girl that was a great BB player, and she wanted to play against the boys to improve. She'd sock you in the eye if she thought you were taking it easy on her because she was a girl. Same goes between races. We all are different. We need to find the beauty and positives in those differences, instead of perpetuating PC BS.