Thank you, Jane! I appreciate that.

"Blame the little hooman!"

I don't believe I could guess, but I'm curious!

My electricity-less neighbour (I'm sure you have all heard of him by now), a brilliant mind, once talked about sabotaging his intellect to fit in at school, and how that didn't work either.  I have done the same, to a smaller extent, but I must be mu...  moreMy electricity-less neighbour (I'm sure you have all heard of him by now), a brilliant mind, once talked about sabotaging his intellect to fit in at school, and how that didn't work either.  I have done the same, to a smaller extent, but I must be much better at it. ;)  

If they did, should it activate more armed forces, or would it suggest that this approach didn't help too much?

Thank you! The theme sounds good on vinyl too. :) As for previous sources for the game, it does include different historical iterations of the golden rule. These stretch back to ancient India (e.g. "why does one hurt others, knowing what it is to be ...  moreThank you! The theme sounds good on vinyl too. :) As for previous sources for the game, it does include different historical iterations of the golden rule. These stretch back to ancient India (e.g. "why does one hurt others, knowing what it is to be hurt?"), or a peculiar phrase from ancient Egypt: "Now this is the command: Do to the doer to make him do."  

I had to think of you as soon as the golden rule came up, of course! Plus, it's a game full of intrigue, discussion, and even some scary stuff (the punishment part). It also recreates the setting with some wonderful details, such as purple carrots (becaus...  moreI had to think of you as soon as the golden rule came up, of course! Plus, it's a game full of intrigue, discussion, and even some scary stuff (the punishment part). It also recreates the setting with some wonderful details, such as purple carrots (because the orange variety hadn't been cultivated yet) and the early expansion of Christianity, practiced in secret. I'm not surprised that you show an open mind. I did and do think you'd like it. Not trying to sell the game to anyone (hehe), but here's a link to Steam, which is probably the most trusted storefront for PC games.  less

And we're all very grateful!

Regularly, but for a limited time. The Forgotten City is one I thoroughly enjoyed, recently. It sends you back through time, to a Roman city that is without sin, because they believe in a version of the golden rule: if they don't treat others th...  moreRegularly, but for a limited time. The Forgotten City is one I thoroughly enjoyed, recently. It sends you back through time, to a Roman city that is without sin, because they believe in a version of the golden rule: if they don't treat others the way they expect to be treated, everyone will be turned into golden statues as punishment. But someone is about to break that rule, and it's up to you to stop them—without breaking it yourself...  

Thank you, Welbz! It's extra strange without the parts that precede and follow it, but you may know what character it's about... :)

Excellent! I've been struggling to come up with an example myself.

Awesome! Lovely breed. But I must be misunderstanding something: if Brick is the dog's name, and he's been around since '99... That would make him about... 26 years old?

I love them. Other animals can certainly show friendship and loyalty too, but dogs seem the epitome. I'm not sure how much more time I'll have with mine... He's getting on in years, and no one knows how old he is. But even though he's been coughing a...  moreI love them. Other animals can certainly show friendship and loyalty too, but dogs seem the epitome. I'm not sure how much more time I'll have with mine... He's getting on in years, and no one knows how old he is. But even though he's been coughing and slowing down, he'll still insist on going running with me.  

It's one thing to have and share an opinion, but to be so vehement about it... Would Belgium, for example (since the question doesn't specify a country), "of course not" be safer if guns were widely, legally available?

I don't think I can, but I appreciate this one!

Singing in the shower.

Hehe, very good! :)I don't know if there's a technical term for speed bumps in these countries... People just call them "prone police" (my translation). When I was taking driver's ed, I asked my instructor what to call speed bumps, other than "prone ...  moreHehe, very good! :)I don't know if there's a technical term for speed bumps in these countries... People just call them "prone police" (my translation). When I was taking driver's ed, I asked my instructor what to call speed bumps, other than "prone police." He wanted to know why I asked. I said: if I have to go over one during my exam, and there's a police officer in the car with me (as it works here), I don't want to refer to it as "prone police"—what if they're offended?His answer: "How about you just drive, huh?"  less

Their neighbours to the north might doubBel fast, too.

As one of the comments to that video states, they managed to pick a VP who makes the world pray for Trump's health. (Unless he's merely as sycophantic as he appears.)

Great to see you, JA!

Ha! Would it still preserve the grunts and shrieks?

Your absence here will be felt, Ele. Best wishes!

I haven't been reading as much as I like, but the book on top of my nightstand is Write Like the Masters. It's interesting to see how the author, William Cane, has distilled some of the greats, and how he encourages the old practice of emulation...  moreI haven't been reading as much as I like, but the book on top of my nightstand is Write Like the Masters. It's interesting to see how the author, William Cane, has distilled some of the greats, and how he encourages the old practice of emulation: for people to try to do what others have done, before they put their own spin on it. Hence you're supposed to get a gradual build-up, rather than say, students of creative writing being told to come up with something completely original on the spot. That might be like electing someone with no political experience to the highest position in a given country. (Hey, it's still answerMug—I couldn't resist.)  less

Hehe! Is the winner who apologizes the most, or the least?

For what it's worth, I prefer Outlook (Hotmail's rebranding) to Gmail. Have you been having any grrrrrreat issues with it?

Or during?

Hehe, we're getting a bit of both, so I'm happy! I did read that our brains are wired to like the smell of rain, or petrichor, and that we're sensitive to it. Might be because of its importance to our earliest ancestors. (It even leads camels to oase...  moreHehe, we're getting a bit of both, so I'm happy! I did read that our brains are wired to like the smell of rain, or petrichor, and that we're sensitive to it. Might be because of its importance to our earliest ancestors. (It even leads camels to oases!) So there you go: the subjectivity of your opinion of the weather may be objectively correct (and provable) as well!  

Was anticipating rain today, which made me think of this question and whether you like "petrichor"? I sure am fond of what it means!

I'm really sorry to hear that. Hope you're hanging in there... I unexpectedly lost a friend from childhood 8 months ago. It wasn't until the funeral that the sorrow of it caught up to me; guilt, even. Doing better now. I have a shirt with his silhoue...  moreI'm really sorry to hear that. Hope you're hanging in there... I unexpectedly lost a friend from childhood 8 months ago. It wasn't until the funeral that the sorrow of it caught up to me; guilt, even. Doing better now. I have a shirt with his silhouette on the back, which I like taking to new places.  

Funny! Over here, they'd probably expect to be tipped for that.

At best! (Psst — do you think this is some adults' equivalent of sharing ghost stories?)

Yes, the legal part... is not always so clear, hehe. Massive difference between socialism and communism, though. Funnier still how much the former scares people.

That kind of claim hurts everyone on whichever side, but I've been commenting enough for now... https://www.politifact.com/article/2025/mar/05/january-littlejohn-story-about-secret-gender-trans/

Could be that this reinforces the point. But the problem with anyone opposing the means of the obscenely wealthy is that people can always point at them and ask: "Do you really need three pairs of shoes? Well, then you're a hypocrite for saying I shouldn'...  moreCould be that this reinforces the point. But the problem with anyone opposing the means of the obscenely wealthy is that people can always point at them and ask: "Do you really need three pairs of shoes? Well, then you're a hypocrite for saying I shouldn't have three private jets."  

Although I'm not sure how those numbers add up, I do wish it were possible to address both waste and taxation as if they weren't mutually exclusive, but actually connected issues. Especially for a party that prides itself on going against the establishmen...  moreAlthough I'm not sure how those numbers add up, I do wish it were possible to address both waste and taxation as if they weren't mutually exclusive, but actually connected issues. Especially for a party that prides itself on going against the establishment, for the sake of regular people.  

Perhaps I'm overestimating the importance of that detail, but I wonder how it could ever be left out!

That's true—if you have more than you need, you don't need them—but it hinges on a pretty big "if." One that many people seem to want to believe (or not believe) based only on whom it's coming from. And it still misses Element's original quest...  moreThat's true—if you have more than you need, you don't need them—but it hinges on a pretty big "if." One that many people seem to want to believe (or not believe) based only on whom it's coming from. And it still misses Element's original question, which I think remains pertinent to ask. As for parks, I've seen for myself how beautiful they can be in different parts of the U.S., and how valued, for a long time, by many different administrations regardless of politics. Even so, it's a shame to think anyone would find them too well-kept.  less

It seems true that no air traffic controllers were fired, so thank you for that, but it still misses the point about taxation. I also fail to see the connection between park workers and a bloated bureaucracy...

Great question. I can be quick to criticize the overall mentality in Antwerp (Belgium), but it has its historic charm and cultural diversity.There's a Gothic cathedral, a 9th-century castle, the home of Peter Paul Rubens (Baroque painter), and apparently ...  moreGreat question. I can be quick to criticize the overall mentality in Antwerp (Belgium), but it has its historic charm and cultural diversity.There's a Gothic cathedral, a 9th-century castle, the home of Peter Paul Rubens (Baroque painter), and apparently the only museum on UNESCO's World Heritage List — Plantin-Moretus, 16th-century printers.  

I can see why! The choir's my favourite part. :)

I have now. Thanks! :) That's way more '90s than I realized Mellencamp had gotten!

I hadn't heard about an opposition to paper straws. What, if anything, is the reasoning there?

Coffee is one of those things that sometimes I feel I should try, but it doesn't seem to work too well for me. Alcohol I've long abandoned.

Hehe, likewise!

Without any accessories it would just look silly, wouldn't it?

A noble endeavour!

I've heard that wearing unused trash bags works pretty well for both warmth and personal space!

There's been a string of corruption-related arrests here, as a consequence of the mass protests around the country and particularly the capital, Belgrade. If this person you're looking for happens to be renowned for her sly and evasive nature, beware the ...  moreThere's been a string of corruption-related arrests here, as a consequence of the mass protests around the country and particularly the capital, Belgrade. If this person you're looking for happens to be renowned for her sly and evasive nature, beware the informants!  

All's well here, thanks for asking! Much less snow than over there, it seems. I've returned from a three-month visit to the US, which was a great time. Now I'm getting reacquainted with my old Serbian firewood-oriented routine, while testing different kin...  moreAll's well here, thanks for asking! Much less snow than over there, it seems. I've returned from a three-month visit to the US, which was a great time. Now I'm getting reacquainted with my old Serbian firewood-oriented routine, while testing different kinds of (free) writing software, before the start of a competition I hope to try out.