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.  

How lovely to hear! Mine was very pleasant too, albeit at a distance. (By which I'm not referring to binoculars or telescopes.) I won't ask you for details, lest m2c need interfere!

So... What's new with you?

You're striking at my weak point. I can hardly ever have enough sauce, and the only thing maintaining a semblance of moderation is my frugality. Sauce might kill me, in which case I'd like to be dipped and buried in it.

I mistook the sound of a trumpet for that of a saxophone once. At least admitting to my mistake led to a free drink from a sympathetic bartender.

I don't know if this is the sort of source you would trust, but I've been looking at fact-checking sites and they come to the same conclusion as Reuters. https://www.reuters.com/fact-check/no-evidence-us-spent-50-million-condoms-gaza-2025-01-30/

No, on Peacock. Why are you trying to say it's my fault? Hehe.

That's funny; I only just started watching the first season and think it holds up perfectly well. I'll be interested in seeing what they do with this reboot—which doesn't mean I expect it to be nearly as good.

No, but I'd love to go.

I appreciate the kind explanation all the same; especially on a topic as convoluted!

I'm aware—just curious why it was being written (repeatedly, at this point) in all caps, hence the supposed acronym.

I love Anglo-Greco mutts like that, hehe. Learning English can be like taking a dastardly quiz for every single day of one's life... "Guess how this is pronounced?!"

MGGA!!!

Is "GAZA" an acronym?

Those same numbers, but in Celsius!

Sounds very disconcertoing.

I'm sure many people know some of Lynch's work, without even needing to know his name. Twin Peaks, Blue Velvet, Mulholland Drive, The Elephant Man,... He was a really special sort of creative soul. I'm saddened but grateful.

When multiple answers come to mind, I like to go by what seems more unusual. 
Allen Ginsberg described Dylan's singing here as "Hebraic cantillation." And, since Emmylou Harris didn't get to learn the song beforehand, she said "the band would start p...  moreWhen multiple answers come to mind, I like to go by what seems more unusual. 
Allen Ginsberg described Dylan's singing here as "Hebraic cantillation." And, since Emmylou Harris didn't get to learn the song beforehand, she said "the band would start playing and would kind of poke me when he wanted me to jump in. Somehow I watched his mouth with one eye and the lyrics with the other."   

Talk to swans. Everybody knows they’re not that understanding. Ducks tend to be the wiser choice.

I bet drawing them is very hard, but painting by number must take quite a bit of work too, because of the colorful patterns. That was a whole lot of great pictures, Danny. Thank you!

Wow oh wow!