Daily Stoic Week 9

by | Feb 25, 2022 | Advice, LifeSkills, Musings | 282 comments

Last Week

The Daily Stoic

The Practicing Stoic

Meditations

How to Be a Stoic

I really liked this one, H/T mindyourbusiness:

The Stoic Challenge

 

Feb 26

“Another has done me wrong? Let him see to it. He has his own tendencies, and his own affairs. What I have now is what the common nature has willed, and what I endeavor to accomplish
now is what my nature wills.”
—MARCUS AURELIUS, MEDITATIONS, 5.25

It’s easy for me to get righteously angry when I feel I have been wronged. Today, I got cut off by a car in a hurry to get in front of me, so he wouldn’t get stuck behind a big rig. I was a little ticked because I had to slam on my brakes so he wouldn’t rip the front off my car. I could have acted stupidly in return, but I told myself, he must have a good reason to act like that and forgot about him.

 

Feb 27

“Of all the things that are, some are good, others bad, and yet others indifferent. The good are virtues and all that share in them; the bad are the vices and all that indulge them; the indifferent lie in between virtue and vice and include wealth, health, life, death, pleasure, and pain.”
—EPICTETUS, DISCOURSES, 2.19.12b–13

What is good is within my power to control, if I make proper choices. What is bad is also within my power to control, if I make poor choices. Indifferent doesn’t mean it has no effect on my life, just that I do not control them and should not worry about them. Easier said than done sometimes.

 

Feb 28

“The soul is like a bowl of water, and our impressions are like the ray of light falling upon the water. When the water is troubled, it appears that the light itself is moved too, but it isn’t. So, when a person loses their composure it isn’t their skills and virtues that are troubled, but the spirit in which they exist, and when that spirit calms down so do those things.”
—EPICTETUS, DISCOURSES, 3.3.20–22

If I get mad, which sometimes I do, that doesn’t mean I throw up my hands and say “well, this doesn’t work.” I need to be able to recover and use what I have learned, even though I still backslide sometimes.

 

Mar 01

“An important place to begin in philosophy is this: a clear perception of one’s own ruling principle.”
—EPICTETUS, DISCOURSES, 1.26.15

 

If I want to control myself better, I need to start with an understanding of hat I am trying to accomplish and then I know what to work on and what to improve.

 

Mar 02

“Above all, it is necessary for a person to have a true self-estimate, for we commonly think we can do more than we really can.”
—SENECA, ON TRANQUILITY OF MIND, 5.2

I need an honest view of my strengths and shortcomings. I am good at ignoring big things I can’t control. I still get flash anger when I am trying to do things and there is something in my way, or I can’t find a tool I need. It is difficult to admit I have shortcomings, because I do have a pretty high opinion of myself.

 

Mar 03

“These things don’t go together. You must be a unified human being, either good or bad. You must diligently work either on your own reasoning or on things out of your control—take great care
with the inside and not what’s outside, which is to say, stand with the philosopher, or else with the mob!”
—EPICTETUS, DISCOURSES, 3.15.13

If I am constantly fighting myself and vacillating between doing right and doing wrong, the stress will tear me apart. I will continue to work on my internal choices and not let things outside of those control me. Anger at things I can’t control is always lurking.

 

Mar 04

“The person is free who lives as they wish, neither compelled, nor hindered, nor limited—whose choices aren’t hampered, whose desires succeed, and who don’t fall into what repels them. Who wishes to live in deception—tripped up, mistaken, undisciplined, complaining, in a rut? No one. These are base people who don’t live as they wish; and so, no base person is free.”
—EPICTETUS, DISCOURSES, 4.1.1–3a

By this measure, I am not free. I go to work everyday with people that believe every left wing talking point without question. I do not say anything, because I like my job and the generous paycheck. However, I do not live in deception, if I am asked I give an honest answer, I merely live in silence. Maybe I am thinking too hard on this one. I am definitely not a base person as they are described here, and I do not feel as though I am tripped up, mistaken, undisciplined, complaining, or in a rut.

 

A little Shooter Jennings for today:

Arrested for marijuana.

Shot some cops.

 

 

 

About The Author

ron73440

ron73440

What I told my wife when she said my steel Baby Eagle .45 was heavy, "Heavy is good, heavy is reliable, if it doesn't work you could always hit him with it."-Boris the Blade MOLON LABE

282 Comments

  1. DEG

    “ we commonly think we can do more than we really can.”

    /looks at long list of undone house projects
    /looks at queue of guns needing maintenance.

    Yep.

    Thanks Ron!

    • Ghostpatzer

      /looks at 1.5″ of sleet on driveway

      Sigh.

      • UnCivilServant

        At least you have a driveway. And that it’s only 1.5 inches of accumulation.

      • Ghostpatzer

        Sleet weighs a ton, and there is ice on top of the sleet if that makes any sense.

      • UnCivilServant

        Yes, the ice is a pain that complicates removal.

      • Not Adahn

        I was fortunate to give my front steps one final glance before driving off. A DVD had been delivered sometime last night between my coming home and the snow starting. If I had waited until I got home tonight, the bump in the snowfall would have been undetectable.

        It occurs to me that my only two 4k BluRays are both Denis Villeneuve films.

      • UnCivilServant

        The snow I had to move to relocate my car was powdery. Not light powder, but not snowball snow. Easier to move than either since it didn’t have too much weight per shovel, and didn’t turn into a flurry every time I picked some up.

        Hopefully the snow in your area is similar.

      • Not Adahn

        This morning there wasn’t much to clear. I may have broken the pin that holds one of the augers onto the axle. I’ll check it out tomorrow.

      • Sensei

        I’m only slightly south and east and it’s mostly rain here.

        Some ice, but nothing on my asphalt drive.

        Quite thankful about that.

      • Drake

        I just threw ice melt on it and went back inside to wait for it to warm up a bit.

      • DEG

        I think we’re about eight inches of snow here and still falling.

    • Ted S.

      “ we commonly think we can do more than we really can.”

      Yeah, Bro commonly thinks he can first.

  2. creech

    Other than Lukoil (gasoline stations in 11 eastern states) , are there any other Russian companies operating in the U.S. that the average consumer can boycott until Putin is removed?

    • Rat on a train

      Citgo doesn’t need competition for my boycott.

    • Ghostpatzer

      Pornhub.ru? I hear there are alternatives.

      • UnCivilServant

        Something looks wrong with that knife.

      • Ghostpatzer

        I’ll be in my bunk.

      • Fatty Bolger

        American Pie style?

      • JaimeRoberto (shama/lama/ding dong)

        That’s some juicy meat.

      • Scruffy Nerfherder

        Hnnnnggghhh….

      • pistoffnick the refusnik

        Seems undercooked and where is the ketchup?

        /runs out of room

      • slumbrew

        Meh. Gimme a ribeye over a filet any day.

      • EvilSheldon

        Filets are only good when they’re attached to a New York strip…

      • Sean

        Porterhouses are on sale at the Fresh Market this week.

      • EvilSheldon

        I know. Want to guess how I know?

        😉

    • Not Adahn

      ISTR gay bars ditching Stolichnaya. I also STR that there was something wrong with that strategy.

      • Lackadaisical

        Latvians make it, not Russians?

      • Not Adahn

        Sounds about right.

  3. MikeS

    I could have acted stupidly in return, but I told myself, he must have a good reason to act like that and forgot about him.

    Yeah…I need to work on this.

    • Bob Boberson

      Forced association makes this much more difficult in my experience.

      -1 f/ Democracy

    • SDF-7

      I have no idea who those people are — and after skimming the article… still don’t really care.

      So, I vote “Lifetime movie” so I’ll probably never even come across such a beast… 😉

  4. kinnath

    I see my FB friends are starting to include the Ukrainian flag in their profile pics.

    What a useless gesture.

    • UnCivilServant

      I have trouble remembering which bands of solid color belong to which country. It’s like the most recent updates for the simulation removed a lot of the character from the flags. We need symbols back.

    • JaimeRoberto (shama/lama/ding dong)

      Solidarity, man.

      We gotta take these bastards. Now we could do it with conventional weapons, but that could take years and cost millions of lives. No, I think we have to go all out. I think that this situation absolutely requires a really futile and stupid gesture be done on somebody’s part!

      Change the icons and let slip the hashtags of war.

      • Stinky Wizzleteats

        It wasn’t over when the Germans bombed Pearl Harbor and it’s not over now.

      • hayeksplosives

        “ Change the icons and let slip the hashtags of war.”

        LOL

    • Not Adahn

      #bringbackourдівчата

      • Not Adahn

        The synthesizer at the end was rad.

      • Not Adahn

        And OF COURSE Kizone Kaprow is leaving comments on youtube videos.

      • Swiss Servator

        DON’T SAY THAT NAME!

        …you might summon it.

    • Fatty Bolger

      It pairs well with a FREE TIBET bumper sticker.

      • Claypoolsreservoir

        While they simultaneously drink all the CCP’s Covid propaganda tea.

    • Dr. Fronkensteen

      We have to do something. This is something.

    • MikeS

      “Slacktivists”

    • DEG
      • kinnath

        Too late 🙂

        See above

      • DEG

        Oops

      • Scruffy Nerfherder

        Why haven’t I seen that one before?

      • Lackadaisical

        Cause you don’t click my links?

        *Runs away crying*

      • Scruffy Nerfherder

        It’s true.

        Maybe it’s because they seem… lackadaisical?

    • Rat on a train

      Ukranian flag masks?

  5. Lackadaisical

    ‘Who wishes to live in deception’

    Fighting with this one as well. I promised myself I would be more out spoken and tell the truth (as always). My wife had complained that this might have pushed away a pair of potential friends who are on the COVID train. She tried to convince me this morning that it’s not lying to say I was ‘ready for a change’ and that’s why we moved.

    I think anyone willing to unfriend you for that reason is crazy and your better off without them.

    I think your silence is in effect a deception. You’d say what you think of you were free.

    That’s easy to say cause I won’t lose my job over it.

      • Stinky Wizzleteats

        Too close to dulce et decorum est pro patria mori for me.

    • Festus

      Festus needs some stoicism just now.

      • Toxteth O'Grady

        Sorry to read about your news.

      • Festus

        I have broad shoulders for a reason. We’ll be fine.

  6. Not Adahn

    In local news:

    There was a limo crash a couple of years back which resulted in Chuckie being flabbergasted that limousines weren’t regulated at the Federal level and went about changing that. in the course of the oddly-long investigation, it turned out that the owner was doing all sorts of hinky things, like faking his inspections and continuing to use the limo that crash it in spite of it being declared unsafe to be used. And he did this with the full knowledge of the local DA. I figured it was just your typical corruption.

    Nope. It was the feebs. Lon Horiuchi must be embarrassed that a CI managed to take out 22 people in one shot.

    • Ted S.

      Chuckles was perfectly fine with the feds firebombing innocent women and children in Waco.

    • Fatty Bolger

      Same as it ever was. Howie Carr has it right, abolish the FBI now.

      • UnCivilServant

        How about we dissolve all of the three letter agencies, and take a close look at offing the USDA too.

  7. kinnath

    Has the Senator from Nevada who stroked out returned to work yet?

    • Festus

      “What difference at this point would that make?”

    • Scruffy Nerfherder

      The question is whether Graham, Burr, Inhofe, and Romney returned to work.

      Those fuckers skipped the Senate vote on ending the vaccine mandates while the GOP had a majority due to Democratic absences, thus dooming the bill. That was not unintentional.

      • Festus

        Let’s hope that fact is remembered.

      • Lackadaisical

        Huh, didn’t even think of that, not that it would have passed the house, but it does tell you a lot.

    • Swiss Servator

      It is Lujan, from New Mexico.

      • kinnath

        Same difference 😉

        Is Lujan back in the office?

      • Swiss Servator

        No, he’s quite down and out.

      • kinnath

        Thanks.

      • Tres Cool

        Really Down and Out

      • Swiss Servator

        I am happy to see that all of you did not disappoint with that one hanging out there! Bravo!

  8. MikeS

    The lady has chutzpa

    “You’re occupants. You’re fascists. What the fuck are you doing on our land with all these guns? Take these seeds and put them in your pockets, so at least sunflowers will grow when you all lie down here.”

    • Not Adahn

      And from this moment, you are cursed

      Wait, they can do that? Must’ve learned it from the gypsies.

      • Festus

        Yeah, don’t fuck with old Gypsies.

  9. db

    So now we know why Biden was so pissed about the China question in his press conference yesterday: US officials, over the course of three months, talked with Chinese officials, presenting information that Russia was making preparations to invade Ukraine, and the Chinese took the information and handed it to Russia, “rebuffing” the US.

    Now, one way to interpret this would be to assume that China showed Russia some information asnd asked “is this true?” But I suspect that is not the case.

    Original article is in NYT behind a paywall but a quick ctrl-A ctrl-C gets the text.

    • Not Adahn

      Many statecraft. Such respected. Wow.

      • LCDR_Fish

        “The adults are back”

        #drownfoggybottom

    • JaimeRoberto (shama/lama/ding dong)

      I’m not sure that it is such a big deal. If they were concerned about disclosing sources and methods, they probably wouldn’t have shared it with China. I’m guessing it was satellite photos, which everyone probably assumes we have anyway.

      • kinnath

        Biden gives data to China. China gives data to Russia. Biden’s message is delivered “we’re watching you”.

        Putin invades Ukraine. Putin’s message is delivered “fuck you that’s why”.

      • Stinky Wizzleteats

        It’s more the naïveté of thinking we might get the Chinese to take our side over Russia’s. They’re like two peas in a pod at this point.

      • juris imprudent

        How can you accuse our super-smart govt types of being played for fools?

        I mean, other than for all the good and obvious reasons?

  10. Tundra

    “The soul is like a bowl of water, and our impressions are like the ray of light falling upon the water. When the water is troubled, it appears that the light itself is moved too, but it isn’t. So, when a person loses their composure it isn’t their skills and virtues that are troubled, but the spirit in which they exist, and when that spirit calms down so do those things.”

    This is gold. My soul could use a little tune up.

    Thanks, Ron!

  11. UnCivilServant

    I had heard an oblique reference to alternate theories about the origins of Great Zimbabwe, so I figured a dose of ancient aliens might be amusing. I’m trying to make heads or tails of this passage.

    What is striking about the Great Temple is the use of Phi (3.14) in its construction as well as its astronomical alignment.

    For instance, the ratio of Phi was used to proportion the Two towers, the Great Central Enclosure as well as the Outer and Curved Inner walls.

    This ratio can be found by measuring the diameter of the Great Tower which is equally proportional to the circumference of the smaller Tower by a Ratio of 3.14.

    Wouldn’t that mean the towers have almost the same diameter since the ratio of the diameter to the circumference of the Great Tower is going to be the only marginally larger Pi? And why would you pick the diameter of one tower and the circumference of the other for a comparison? That’s not what you are going to see. You’re going to see ratios of the same measurement between two objects or of adjacent, non-dependant measurements on the same object – ie, width and height of the tower, since a nominally circular tower will always have the same ratio of width to circumference.

    It says more about the ancient aliens theoriests than about the site.

    • Not Adahn

      3.14 is Pi, not Phi. Phi is 1.62.

      • UnCivilServant

        I’ve forgotten most of the math I once knew. I made the mistake of assuming the article writer fact checked their numbers.

        I mean, if you’re going to base your arguments on ratios, shouldn’t you make sure your numbers are right? Forget I asked they probably make shit up to fit their conclusion.

      • UnCivilServant

        That’s the sad thing, I am now in the position where I can address a lot of people with the line “I’ve forgotten more math than you will ever know.”

        I forget where but I swear I once heard the rebuttal of “Yeah, but the problem is, you’ve forgotten it.”

      • Not Adahn

        Not to give away any professional secrets, but “astronomical alignments” are pretty easy to fake.

      • Not Adahn

        “finesse” is a better word than “fake.”

      • Lackadaisical

        The magic of three dimensions?

      • Claypoolsreservoir

        Parallax.

      • Not Adahn

        “close enough”

  12. Festus

    Things happening out of my control. Epictitus save me now!

    • pistoffnick the refusnik

      Jesus take the wheel!

      • Dr. Fronkensteen

        Sorry, You’re both wrong follow the way of Epicurus.

  13. Sean

    Based.

    You might wanna put some shoes on though.

    • Not Adahn

      Ewww. Litter box in the living room.

      • TARDis

        Could be worse. Could be the kitchen.

      • Lackadaisical

        Been there done that (as a house guest)

        Very disconcerting, but then he had about 20 cats. :/

      • kinnath

        one room flat or close to it.

      • Not Adahn

        She’s an MP.

      • kinnath

        Explains the nice patio.

        So two rooms.

      • Lackadaisical

        Plus bare feet. *Shudders*

        Glad I only own one animal and he’s pretty trained.

      • Lackadaisical

        Potty trained* but he’s pretty well trained too.

    • Not Adahn

      Also, trigger discipline has apparently become a meme.

    • EvilSheldon

      I take back what I said about AK users.

    • MikeS

      Israel on Foot
      @israel_foot
      She is a member of Ukraine’s parliament. God bless her. Can you imagine America’s AOC similarly taking up arms?

      Rewster (vi/per)
      @Rewster17
      I wouldn’t trust AOC to take my drink order.

      • robc

        Not AOC, but Tulsi Gabbard wouldn’t seem to be the American equivalent.

      • DEG

        Maybe not that part.

      • db

        I’d follow MP Butt Naked on twitter

  14. TARDis

    “An important place to begin in philosophy is this: a clear perception of one’s own ruling principle.”

    I’m torn between:

    Love thy neighbor as thyself.

    and

    … crush your enemies, to see them driven before you, and to hear the lamentations of their women.

    Thanks, Ron.

    • UnCivilServant

      Those are not mutually exclusive, so long as your neighbors are not classed among your enemies.

      /tribal interpretation

  15. Festus

    Thanks again for being a sounding board, you fine folk. Big happenings in the world just now and small ones at Casa Festus but many of you sparked up with words of wisdom and solidarity. This will never be forgotten. I love you people and not in the gay way (Sexy Tonio gets a pass) PSCYCHE!

    • Claypoolsreservoir

      So… wait… who are you gay for?

      • Not Adahn

        Poll question:

        Holden or Amos?

      • kinnath

        Amos

      • slumbrew

        Amos, obvious… I mean, what?! I’m not gay, dude!

      • Mustang

        Amos. Is there even a debate on this?

      • Mojeaux

        I don’t have to be gay for Amos.

      • Ted S.

        He’s gay for Loveconstitution1789?

        /ducking

      • Lackadaisical

        Everybody. Except Tonio?

    • UnCivilServant

      I don’t get it, are we helping or not?

  16. Not Adahn

    Gaaah!

    ERT is still requiring masking, regardless of the governess.

    Welp, it’s a shame my radio is having battery problems.

      • Not Adahn

        Got some true believers on the team.

  17. Drake

    Uhhh… What did the Stoics say about irony and the inability to detect it?

    • The Other Kevin

      The Saddam “Oh no you didn’t!” in the replies is great.

    • Stinky Wizzleteats

      Didn’t Aurelius say “He that pretendeth not to smellt it hast most assuredly dealt it” or something to that effect? Or maybe that was Socrates, my classical philosophy is a bit rusty.

  18. PieInTheSky

    “The person is free who lives as they wish, neither compelled, nor hindered, nor limited—whose choices aren’t hampered, whose desires succeed, and who don’t fall into what repels them. Who wishes to live in deception—tripped up, mistaken, undisciplined, complaining, in a rut? No one. These are base people who don’t live as they wish; and so, no base person is free.”
    —EPICTETUS, DISCOURSES, 4.1.1–3a

    Easy to say when you are not bombed by Putin

    • Lackadaisical

      That’s just your body. If Putin bombs it, what does it matter? Your body isn’t yours.

  19. PieInTheSky

    Also i arrived in Madrid today. I hate this place every fucking restaurant is closed from 2 pm to 8 pm.

    • PieInTheSky

      Also i still dont like sherry

      • Not Adahn

        How’s the ham?

      • Claypoolsreservoir

        Garnacha’s good though! How’s the weather there this time of year?

      • kinnath

        ribera del duero

      • Claypoolsreservoir

        Well now we’re just getting fancy. Spanish wines are my go-to cheap wines. And of those, I prefer the oldest vintage on the bottom shelf and ideally garnacha.

      • kinnath

        I like garnacha.

        I prefer tempranillo.

      • Claypoolsreservoir

        Tempranillo with meat. Garnacha on its own.

      • PieInTheSky

        Now it is the threat of rain but no rain yet. There are puddles so there was sone. Rigjt now 10 civilized degrees

      • Swiss Servator

        So no rain on the plain, mainly in Spain?

    • UnCivilServant

      8pm? When do the they eat dinner? That’s cutting off several hours of the dinner rush here.

      • Scruffy Nerfherder

        LOL. Sometime around midnight.

        It’s different.

      • rhywun

        Yeah in my experience not before 10PM

      • Claypoolsreservoir

        Noon. It’s why they have to sleep; afternoon food coma. Dinner is akin to afternoon tea.

      • Claypoolsreservoir

        Wake up groggy. Drink. Eat a large lunch. Sleep. Drink. Snack. Bed. Repeat… Occasionally fight a bovine beast. Hemingway probably put it more eloquently.

      • Claypoolsreservoir

        I gave up on the Witcher TV series by episode 2. Whatever that is is making me question my decision.

      • UnCivilServant

        That’s the Bovine Defense Force from The video games. It appears if you try to cheese the kill too many cows in the starting area of 3 for easy gold.

      • Claypoolsreservoir

        Well, ping me if that animal shows up in the series. I’ve no time (I do but I’ll say I don’t) to play video games.

      • UnCivilServant

        I wouldn’t know, I don’t watch the show.

    • JaimeRoberto (shama/lama/ding dong)

      I’d have thunk that such a schedule would suit you, given your aversion to sunlight. I like Madrid more than Barcelona, because there aren’t so many tourists. I liked Toledo the most though.

      • MikeS

        Did you catch a Mudhens game when you were there?

      • JaimeRoberto (shama/lama/ding dong)

        Even fewer tourists there.

      • Tres Cool

        Or grab some Tony Packo’s

        (WAY over-rated)

      • rhywun

        I spent a bunch of time in Tarragona (south of Barcelona).

        Wonderful city, not too touristy, and the little fishing villages nearby are delightful. There are also plenty of resort towns if you want tourists.

    • Sean

      I hate this place

      lulz

      Enjoy your vacation.

    • PieInTheSky

      Also obligatory Fuck Real Madrid

      • Claypoolsreservoir

        I too prefer the Madrid that’s been pulled over our eyes to shield us from the truth. Ignorance is bliss.

      • juris imprudent

        You should be very welcome around the Wanda Metropolitano.

    • PieInTheSky

      If any of you wanted to get a real bad opinion of certain romanians of an ethnicity i will not name you should have been ony flight. I had an isle seat and the next two were occupied by two spanish chicks and while they did not stop talking it was a better alternative. Also fuck ryanair. I did not want to go low cost airline but they had the hours that best suited me

      • PieInTheSky

        I am vaguely drunk typing on my phone so i dont give a shit for typos fyi

      • kinnath

        Drink more.

        It will be entertaining to us.

      • Scruffy Nerfherder

        Entertain us!

      • UnCivilServant

        Wait, are you not entertained?

      • Scruffy Nerfherder

        I’m vexed.

      • Lackadaisical

        I’m already entertained by what must be the least stoic reaction to a vacation on a thread about stoicism.

        Literally lol.

      • slumbrew

        Hah, great catch.

        Pie, the anti-Stoic.

      • JaimeRoberto (shama/lama/ding dong)

        Here we are now.

      • UnCivilServant

        Your drunk phone english is still better than mine.

      • PieInTheSky

        The sherry place is full and refusing customers but because i am the only one here by myself, they had a small stool at the end of the bar for me. I suspect it is the lonely drunk stool which fits

      • slumbrew

        I thought all the bars had tapas, too. Just fill up on those.

        I’ve had a couple of sherrys / sherry drinks I’ve liked quite a bit.

      • PieInTheSky

        They gave me olives and almonds with my sherry

      • slumbrew

        I have had worse meals than olives, almonds and fortified wine.

      • Swiss Servator

        “olives, almonds and fortified wine”

        Sounds like a Spanish MRE.

      • Claypoolsreservoir

        I fucking hate tapas.

      • slumbrew

        That makes no sense.

        That’s like saying “I hate appetizers”. It’s a format, not a particular food.

      • UnCivilServant

        But they keep giving such small plates of food, and it gets expensive.

      • Claypoolsreservoir

        I hate appetizers masquerading as a meal. Thus, I hate tapas. Makes perfect sense to me. But, then again, I’m a blithering idiot.

      • slumbrew

        True, there is that.

      • Claypoolsreservoir

        Wait, the tapas or the lack of cognitive competency? A tentative and unfeeling fuck you.

      • slumbrew

        ¿Por qué no los dos?

        (you serve up a hanging curve like that, I’m going to take it deep – we kid because we care. Sort of.)

        Wait, are you a new Tulpa? I haven’t been around. Did you get your “fuck offs”?

      • Claypoolsreservoir

        Ahhh yes yes. My time here is sporadic. But I did receive my obligatory sodomy invitations some time ago.

      • Claypoolsreservoir

        @Mojeaux, No better evidence for the reasonability of my take on tapas.

      • Mojeaux

        Not quite sure how my fawning ode to tapas reinforced a wronger-than-wrong opinion about it, but you do you, man.

      • Claypoolsreservoir

        “Except … I don’t like food.”

        You prove my point.

      • slumbrew

        That was a very sweet story, Mojeaux.

      • Claypoolsreservoir

        But, as someone who became a mechanical engineer because of roller coasters, we can at least agree to that.

      • Not Adahn

        Spaniards have different attitudes than ‘muricans WRT flight etiquette.

      • PieInTheSky

        The romanians of certain ethnicity were loudly singing manele on the flight. Also the passed the 200 euro limit on drinks on the flight. The limit is per person but they were all paying woth one card

      • JaimeRoberto (shama/lama/ding dong)

        Wallachians?

      • slumbrew

        Naggers.

      • Swiss Servator

        Sky Roma or Flying Magyars?

    • PieInTheSky

      I dont get this place. The restautants are closed but at 8:05 i walked by this club/bar looking thing which had a line at the entrance. Strangely half thr line was youn women and i thought those get priority. There was this huge black bouncer at the door not leting anyone in. In most of the world clubs are empty before 11 pm

      • slumbrew

        Only if there’s a last call. Having grown up in New York with a 4 AM last call, it was an adjustment moving to Boston, with a 2 AM (or 1 AM in Cambridge) last call.

        We wouldn’t even go out until 10 or 11 in NY.

        (Now that I’m old mature, even 1 AM sounds too late to me)

      • The Other Kevin

        If you don’t write a gigantic article about this vacation will be disappointed.

        /author of gigantic article about recent vacation

      • Tres Cool

        You have black people in Romania?

        Wait…didnt Wesley Snipes play a vampire?

      • Tres Cool

        I just read up and realized you’re on vacay.
        Try the Grappa.

      • Scruffy Nerfherder

        Grandpa not’s into that sort of thing.

      • slumbrew

        Grappa is Italian.

        Looks like Orujo is the Spanish equivalent.

        Either way, good for gettin’ drunk and/or stripping paint off of your car.

  20. The Late P Brooks

    My Shooter Jennings fave/a>

  21. Scruffy Nerfherder

    Anybody else having difficulties with protonmail?

    • UnCivilServant

      Can you be more specific? Right now I’m not, but depending on the difficulty, I may simply not be seeing it.

      • Scruffy Nerfherder

        Can’t connect at all

      • slumbrew

        Do you mean the actual mail, or the VPN?

        Just connected to mail.protonmail.com no problem

      • UnCivilServant

        I sent myself a test email and it arrived. I am using thunderbird and the protonmail bridge.

      • slumbrew

        And fired up the VPN on my phone – seems to be OK.

      • UnCivilServant

        Trying to connect to the VPN from my desktop just hangs.

      • Scruffy Nerfherder

        Looks like their security provider (neustar) is having regional problems.

        A trace route never gets past their server.

    • Plisade

      Yes. Intermittent connectivity. Won’t download a 64k pic.

      • Swiss Servator

        64k? Not much for a dick pic…

        *runs from room*

      • Plisade

        Security cam snapshot.

        Even so, it’s not the pixels, it’s the…

      • UnCivilServant

        compression artifacts?

      • Plisade

        Cheers, UCS, I’ll drink to that.

      • Tres Cool

        thermostat ?

    • Mustang

      I got a few requests this past week about secure email, VPN, and message options from…friends…and recommended them so maybe there’s more usage than normal? I don’t know how this stuff works.

      • UnCivilServant

        Either an uptick in usage by people recently rendered concerned about people snooping, or the snooping people trying to disrupt the service, or basic technical issues that any complicated system has every so often.

      • hayeksplosives

        The Russians openly stated they were going to launch cyberattacks. Maybe ProtonMail is one of their targets.

  22. Mojeaux

    If you have ever had laparoscopic surgery at all, then you should know what I mean: My left shoulder hurts like hell. If you do not know what that means, consider yourself lucky.

    • UnCivilServant

      I had laproscopic surgery, I don’t know why the shoulder hurts afterwards. Do you know the why on that one?

      • Mojeaux

        Yes. It’s the CO2 they plump your abdomen up with so they can see what they’re doing. It irritates the phrenic nerve.

        It went fine, thanks. but I do feel like I got run over by a truck, and I still have drains.

        I must attend a viewing tonight and a funeral tomorrow (friend with COVID who had totransition to a trach). I am dreading these activities.

      • Gender Traitor

        I’m sorry about the passing of your friend, but I’m glad you at least have the option to go to the service. ::very, very gentle hug::

      • DEG

        Sorry

      • robodruid

        I am sorry as well, i remember all the things you did for your friend and the emotions involved.

  23. The Late P Brooks

    I gobbled down a big bowl of raisin bran, and now I have a tummy ache.

    Live and learn, I guess.

    • Scruffy Nerfherder

      Just blame the dog.

    • Lackadaisical

      I feel like I know way too much about you now.

    • mindyourbusiness

      Don’t worry – this too shall pass…

    • db

      What would Finland ever have to fear from Russia?

      • EvilSheldon

        Russians learning to raise the dead?

      • UnCivilServant

        Well, they might have gotten the necromancers after the last world war.

      • Claypoolsreservoir

        Energy imports?

  24. Gender Traitor

    OT and apropos of nothing, I’m looking for a reasonably low-carb alternative to frozen Atkins meals for my workday lunches because the selection at the grocery has sucked lately. I love chicken salad, so I might be able to motivate myself to make it from scratch. Anyone here have a favorite chicken salad recipe? (The easier the better, but ideally with enough stuff to be interesting.)

    • UnCivilServant

      My chicken salad recipe was canned chicken (drained) and mayo.

      It was not that great, needed seasonings

      • pistoffnick the refusnik

        Curry powder and cayenne, a little diced red onion.

        Thank me later.

      • UnCivilServant

        I’ve not been happy with the flavor of curry powder.

        I think if I were changing it up I’d add salt, pepper, paprika, mustard, and diced hard boiled egg, to make a chicken and deviled egg salad mix.

      • Tres Cool

        Curry powder. Your jib has a cut that I admire.

      • Tres Cool

        Essentially mine too. A splash of mustard. Some seasonings and if Im not lazy so diced, boiled, AIGS

    • Swiss Servator

      Shredded chicken + butter lettuce + a little balsamic vinaigrette.

      *cheese eating grin*

    • Timeloose

      Take a chicken thighs, breast, or hell the whole roaster and slowly simmer it in a pot full either stock or water with peppercorns, salt. chilies / chilli powder, garlic, cummin, and or related south western spices. cook till it will shred with a fork.

      Shred the meat after it cools to room.

      Add brown or Dijon mustard and mayo, freshly julienned cilantro or parsley, paprika, diced briny vegetable like cornichons or pickles, possibly capers or olives. mix and enjoy with bib lettuce cups.

      • Mojeaux

        Soapweed?!

      • Tres Cool

        I simply adore you. Cilantro’s only place is on the kitchen sink.

      • Timeloose

        Parsley or soapweed, freedom of choice!

    • Sean

      Better.

      Top with salsa or pico.

    • hayeksplosives

      I like mine fruity.

      Chicken, grapes cut in half, sliced celery, nuts (pecans, walnuts, or cashews), diced apple, mayonnaise.

      Wrap in Mission low carb tortilla.

      • hayeksplosives

        Sometimes I add in a little shredded carrot & cabbage mix if it’s on hand. Though I prefer carrot and broccoli matchsticks.

      • Gender Traitor

        Oh, yeah! My grocery’s deli makes that style, and I love it! I could skip the wrap, but then I’m the type who’ll skip the bread with the peanut butter.

      • EvilSheldon

        Chicken salad with grapes, cashew halves, and curry is a summer staple of mine.

  25. Tres Cool

    I dont usually stick my hand into the sewer of twatter, but occasionally you pull out a semi-polished turd.

    • hayeksplosives

      At least the US can get our guys to and from the ISS using SpaceX now. Before we had to hitch rides with Russia or China.

      That was embarrassing a few years ago, and now it would have been downright awkward.

  26. The Late P Brooks

    “Another has done me wrong? Let him see to it. He has his own tendencies, and his own affairs. What I have now is what the common nature has willed, and what I endeavor to accomplish
    now is what my nature wills.”

    That’s the Caesar/general/warrior Marcus Aurelius, right? I have a hard time seeing him as a “turn the other cheek, no matter what” kind of guy.

    • Plisade

      Yeah, he seems more of the Bhagavad Gita, “Arise, slay thy enemies, enjoy a prosperous kingdom,” kinda guy. But I like his book and the BG about equally.

  27. Claypoolsreservoir

    “Of all the things that are, some are good, others bad, and yet others indifferent. The good are virtues and all that share in them; the bad are the vices and all that indulge them; the indifferent lie in between virtue and vice and include wealth, health, life, death, pleasure, and pain.”
    —EPICTETUS, DISCOURSES, 2.19.12b–13

    Is it good, bad, or indifferent to let my testicles breathe a bit when I pee? I contend it’s good and, indeed, virtuous, regardless of environment.

  28. slumbrew

    Pie has gone quiet. Should we be worried?

    • slumbrew

      Maybe he’s getting some action. A mysterious stranger, drinking sherry by himself at the end of the bar.

      “Hey baby, want to live forever?”

      • Tres Cool

        “you’re HIV -, right?”

    • juris imprudent

      No, I think the sun is down in Madrid.

    • Tres Cool

      And the default of the LEO will always be “I loudly, clearly, and articulately, announced my presence”. Specially when badgered by his boss with “ya know, the city really doesn’t want to write this check…”

      • UnCivilServant

        Body cameras that can’t be turned off by the officer are a must. With a presumption that an officer with a ‘broken’ camera is lying.