Sacramento was named after the Sacramento River, whose original Spanish name was Rio de los Sacramentos (River of the Sacraments), referring to the Blessed Sacrament; Spanish explorers tended to give new places Catholic names.

philologist

Exactly. I often encountered people from elsewhere in the country saying "California is a desert!" and I would correct them and say that only the Mojave region of California is a desert, the rest is a variety of climates. But now that we're getting such l...  moreExactly. I often encountered people from elsewhere in the country saying "California is a desert!" and I would correct them and say that only the Mojave region of California is a desert, the rest is a variety of climates. But now that we're getting such little rainfall, the whole state basically is a desert. :(  

Yes. I spent some time in Madison this summer. I loved it. College town, lots of bike paths, decent night life, the temperatures were in the 70s. I had gone there for a wedding and spent several days exploring the city with friends. It was my first time i...  moreYes. I spent some time in Madison this summer. I loved it. College town, lots of bike paths, decent night life, the temperatures were in the 70s. I had gone there for a wedding and spent several days exploring the city with friends. It was my first time in Wisconsin. Very humid compared to California, though, but that's true of most of the country east of the Rockies. It takes some getting used to for us West Coasters.   

My dad mom was 32, my dad was 33. My parents had difficulty conceiving, so that was not the first time they had tried to have a child. I'm the only one they were able to have, but I'm more than enough. :P

"Friend of Dorothy" is apparently an old fashioned euphemism for a homosexual man. It may refer to Dorothy from the Wizard of Oz, as Judy Garland was an early gay icon. 

I was in college and had been invited to my first party of freshman year. I had some wine. I did not get drunk, only felt the slightest tipsiness.

I don't abhor any accents. 

I've been to Singapore; it's definitely worth a visit. I've also been to the Bahamas. I wouldn't mind seeing Indonesia, New Zealand, and Madagascar some day. 

As if that's the only reason we cooperate with China. We also want their extremely lucrative market and we depend on their manufactured goods. There are many reasons we don't just invade them to save the Uyghurs. It would completely disrupt the world econ...  moreAs if that's the only reason we cooperate with China. We also want their extremely lucrative market and we depend on their manufactured goods. There are many reasons we don't just invade them to save the Uyghurs. It would completely disrupt the world economy and our own. That is not me saying "we shouldn't do anything". That is me saying "the powers that be won't do anything". They value profit above all else and they could not handle the economic hit that breaking with China or taking military action against them would cause.  less

It's a known phenomenon: "missing white woman syndrome". Meanwhile other missing persons are almost entirely ignored. But a young, blond woman gone missing has a way of captivating the media and the public. 

Nah. We're not at war with China, so it isn't treason. And he swore an oath to the Constitution, not to the president. He does seem to have been paranoid, but that's about it. 

Yes, I have been camping in a number of places, mostly in Northern California. I've been camping at Lake Tahoe several times. 

7-8. Sometimes longer. 

Nope. My voice has never been great. It's kind of nasally, it's not very deep, it's not radio-ready. :)

About 15 years ago. I was last 15 in 2007. 

December 2019 was the last time I attended a church service. 

Ah, road trips. I can't wait to be super pumped for 15 minutes then bored out of my mind for 8 hours. But seriously, I enjoy road trips of the proper length with the right people. I would not want to go if:1. The weather is too hot and the car's air ...  moreAh, road trips. I can't wait to be super pumped for 15 minutes then bored out of my mind for 8 hours. But seriously, I enjoy road trips of the proper length with the right people. I would not want to go if:1. The weather is too hot and the car's air conditioner isn't great.2. The scenery is boring for most of the trip.3. We get stuck in traffic.All three have happened before on previous road trips, but the good ones are worth it. :)  

Well that is pretty hilarious, I must admit.Very few cities actually defunded anything. Many of them just promised it but it didn't even happen. "Defund the police" is just a protest slogan and those in power knew it. 

The president fled second. 
The Afghan military had little to no loyalty to the president, who was weak and ineffectual overall. 

The outcome we "wanted" in Afghanistan was an ongoing low-level occupation that lasts forever. On that front, it was going well. That's why everyone is so pissed off about the withdrawal. 

Yes, I always have. It has nothing to do with women insisting on it, it's just that I've always felt the default state of a toilet should be the lid closed. 

About 8 years. It was in 2013 that I joined AB. I was 21. 

Sometimes. I never used to, but my parents bought me a nice one for Christmas a few years ago and I've gotten in the habit of wearing one after showering. 

Sometimes. Only out of convenience, really. I'll buy bottle water after a bike ride if I really want some ice cold water. 

What's bothering me are that people who grew up in post-Taliban Afghanistan are now going to have any freedom or opportunities reversed. But maybe there's hope that a new generation will eventually come to reject these guys. 

Trump's decision to withdraw was actually something I agreed with. That said, I didn't think it was wise to negotiate with the Taliban and refuse to negotiate with the Afghan government. If we wanted the Afghan government to be legitimate and take over th...  moreTrump's decision to withdraw was actually something I agreed with. That said, I didn't think it was wise to negotiate with the Taliban and refuse to negotiate with the Afghan government. If we wanted the Afghan government to be legitimate and take over the country, we didn't show it. And Biden bungled the withdrawal by doing it too quickly. We should've put more effort into helping Afghans who opposed the Taliban get out of the country, not just American citizens.   

I was being sarcastic. :P

I guess my question is: should our prerogative be maintaining a low-level presence in a country like Afghanistan to prevent the Taliban from acting without bothering to build up their army or government? It seems that threat of American attack was the onl...  moreI guess my question is: should our prerogative be maintaining a low-level presence in a country like Afghanistan to prevent the Taliban from acting without bothering to build up their army or government? It seems that threat of American attack was the only thing holding back the Taliban. For our 20 year presence there and attempt to build up their army and government, all of it folded within a few weeks. Maybe the only thing we need to be doing is threatening to bomb the **** out of the Taliban if they attempt to take over while keeping them at an insurgent level. It doesn't seem that "nation building" in Afghanistan is even possible.Of course, it's important to note that Pakistan is also a haven for terrorists and a supporter of the Taliban. Maybe we should be focusing more on them.  less

You can't make an omelet without breaking a few eggs. 

Yes, because I'm a hypocritical imperialist "America First" Trump supporter who wants "forever war". 

Trump's "conditions" were a meeting with Taliban, which any sane person knew they would not honor. The same thing would've happened under Trump. Any Trump supporter complaining about the withdrawal now just because of who happens to be in the White House ...  moreTrump's "conditions" were a meeting with Taliban, which any sane person knew they would not honor. The same thing would've happened under Trump. Any Trump supporter complaining about the withdrawal now just because of who happens to be in the White House is a massive hypocrite.The fact is though that I support this withdrawal. I supported it when it was Trump's prerogative and I support it now under Biden. We cannot stay there forever.  

Yes. I have all of them, including my wisdom teeth. 

It's pretty funny to see the internal logic of these people. They won't take the vaccine because it's full of microchips or whatever, but they still defend Trump as being the one who was able to get the vaccine produced so quickly. They have trouble balan...  moreIt's pretty funny to see the internal logic of these people. They won't take the vaccine because it's full of microchips or whatever, but they still defend Trump as being the one who was able to get the vaccine produced so quickly. They have trouble balancing their pride in Trump with their hatred of the vaccines. It's similar to how many Trump supporters are criticizing Biden for removing troops from Afghanistan despite the fact that Trump promised to do that too...  

Yes, that is something I can do. I'm adept at pronouncing Italian. :)

I'm 29 and I still get carded. I have a youthful appearance. :)

No, I don't think the Irish name Nevan is in the Bible. :)

Two days ago. I ride my bike regularly. 

Anywhere. I would assume that said foreigner might be thinking of the "stereotypical American experience", but if they say "real" then I'll show them that a "real American" can live in any part of the country and there's plenty to see and experience no ma...  moreAnywhere. I would assume that said foreigner might be thinking of the "stereotypical American experience", but if they say "real" then I'll show them that a "real American" can live in any part of the country and there's plenty to see and experience no matter where you are. I'd show them the natural wonders of California then maybe finish with a backyard barbecue. :)  

My Audi's not gutless. I can haul ass if I need to. :P

I hope not, but I could see myself becoming a curmudgeonly dotard, more content to be around books and cats than people. Then again, I'm kind of like that already. :D

I think so. The fewer corrupt pervy politicians in power, the better. 

Yes, I'm always gallivanting about like a dandy.

Who says there's no outrage over missing children and pedophiles? Seems like it's a pretty common thing to be outraged by. 

Unpopular opinion but...I don't like 'em. :( 

I'm not sure. Green has been my favorite color for a long time. I think I began to appreciate it more as I became more interested in gardening, though.