World Views

[Amigoo]

Re: https://nypost.com/2020/11/30/kazakhsta ... d-romance/

" 'Couples need to talk less and connect more. With time and experience, Margo and I realized it takes more than words to have a conversation... Your partner sure deserves the best, but they have to do their part.' Tolochko said he met Margo at a nightclub, where he rescued her from some unwanted attention, adding that they had planned to take the plunge in March before the coronavirus pandemic hit."

"The only requirements for a wedding to take place in Kazakhstan are that consenting partners be a male and a female over 18 years old —
with no mention of whether dolls are included."

Apparently, even ventriloquists' dolls can acquire such reality, vis-à-vis the active partner.
And the photos suggest a loving couple, but Margo seems a bit more distant than typical.

Rod

[Amigoo]

Re: https://www.foxnews.com/food-drink/wend ... chase-2020

"Wendy’s wants you to eat a burger for breakfast. That’s why the fast food chain is giving away free Breakfast Baconators
for customers who make a purchase between Nov. 30 and Dec. 27."

"this burger has been slightly adjusted for morning palates and switches out the beef patty for a square breakfast sausage patty.
Other additions include fresh-cracked eggs, six strips of Applewood smoked bacon, two slices of American cheese
and Swiss cheese sauce sandwiched between two buns."

Even vegetarian buns might roll out of bed earlier to sample this cheesy sample!
... once "make a purchase" is better defined.

Rod

[Amigoo]

Re: https://www.discovermagazine.com/health ... ose-weight

"one study from 2014 found that just 15 minutes of shivering might provide similar fat-burning benefits as a full hour of moderate exercise."

"Dubbed the 'exercise hormone' because our bodies seem to release it in response to physical activity, irisin helps turn white fat into brown fat in our bodies. That matters because brown fat is easily turned into energy by the body's mitochondria stores, meaning it's easier to burn off. And sure enough, irisin is present in our bodies when we shiver, just like when we exercise, meaning that unpleasant shaking sensation can indeed help us burn fat."

Notes: Just being cold is not the same as shivering. Also, another article mentioned that shivering "inspires" us to eat more, which might be why shivering rarely produces lasting weight loss. And some nutritionists, like José, prefer a more technical term than "brown fat".

Rod

[Amigoo]

Re: https://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/a ... -they.html

"Ellen Page publicly comes out as a transgender male named Elliot telling fans in a statement: 'My pronouns are he/they' "

"Elliot, who received an Oscar nod for their role in the hit 2008 movie Juno, asking his followers and fans for 'patience',
admitting that he is 'scared' of the 'invasiveness, the hate, the jokes, and of the violence' that he may face moving forward."

Another example that 2020 has given birth to a new "coming out" tradition where the uncertain young finally decide
on their own pronouns. This tradition might be formalized when the pronouns remain chosen for the following decades.

Rod

[Amigoo]

Re: https://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-55148998

"China has successfully put another probe on the Moon. Its robotic Chang'e-5 mission touched down
a short while ago with the aim of collecting samples of rock and dust to bring back to Earth."

The level of technology that proves a country has arrived as a major world power.

Rod

[Amigoo]

Re: https://www.cnn.com/travel/article/ferr ... index.html

"The team at Jet Test and Transport runs a global airline -- but the planes fly on a one-way trip
without passengers or cargo. They are experts in ferry flights, moving empty aircraft around the world."

Interesting reading about a necessary - worldwide - plane ferrying service.

Rod

[Amigoo]

Re: https://finance.yahoo.com/news/singapor ... 00688.html

"Eat Just Inc., a maker of meat and egg substitutes, has been approved to sell its laboratory-created chicken
... which becomes the first government to allow the sale of cultured meat."

"Not-So-Faux Meat"? However, historic definition includes "animal flesh":
(from Wikipedia) "Meat is animal flesh that is eaten as food.
Humans have hunted and killed animals for meat since prehistoric times."

Until lab-created meat becomes "animal flesh",
it remains "meat-like" or "faux meat" or "not vegetarian".

But speaking of chickens, until Faux Eggs are created,
what happens to the real chickens needed to lay real eggs?

Rod

[Amigoo]

Re: "Bulls significantly outnumbering bears in #InvestorsIntelligence Advisors’ Sentiment survey
... Euphoria flashing in @Citi Panic/Euphoria model"

The title to this link seems good summary of the stock market
... considering the severely downsized business - worldwide!
"Panic/Euphoria" must be like the feeling of skiing off a cliff
but still floating far away from the inevitable bottom.

Having committed to the transactions, just give yourself
a few PEP Talks (Panic/Euphoria/Panic).

Rod

[Amigoo]

Re: https://www.fox5ny.com/news/new-jersey- ... -marijuana

"New York City may soon be the first in the nation to exempt most prospective job applicants from being penalized for marijuana use. The bill affects both public and private employers in New York City, including companies with headquarters outside city limits. The City Council passed the legislation by a 40–4 vote."

Now suggesting "The Tale of One City" ... like many more nationwide

"It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness, it was the epoch of belief, it was the epoch of incredulity, it was the season of Light, it was the season of Darkness, it was the spring of hope, it was the winter of despair, we had everything before us, we had nothing before us, we were all going direct to Heaven, we were all going direct the other way" - Charles Dickens

Just imagine
Prospective job applicants for city transportation, heavy construction equipment, and emergency services!
... but teaching jobs may be OK, since students' work load might become laissez-faire (SP?)

Rod

[Amigoo]

Re: https://www.cnn.com/style/article/amazo ... index.html

"Spectacular eight-mile frieze of Ice Age beasts found in Amazon rainforest"

Well ... not frozen now, this "horizontal band of decoration on a wall".

Rod

[Amigoo]

Re: https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/articl ... tates.html

"The U.S. government has ruled that emotional support animals will no longer be considered service animals on flights ... Transportation Department issued a final rule on the Air Carrier Access Act Wednesday after years of tension between airlines and passengers who bring their pets on board for free by saying they need them for emotional support."

Of course, it's still OK to call a loved one (a human) "my pet" since tickets must be purchased, but collars and leashes still raise eyebrows (if not a legal support animal). And parental restrictions on in-flight entertainment might be deemed symbolic collars and leashes.

Rod

[Amigoo]

Re: https://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/arti ... e-out.html

"Transgender teen goes viral with 'basic trans etiquette' guide that he created to educate others after Elliot Page came out"

"you should never use a trans or non-binary person's birth name, a practice which is known as 'deadnaming' "

There will probably be both public and private etiquette guides since birth family, relatives, and friends will have been using the person's birth name and related pronouns for years! In fact, this suggests that a formal coming out event (with P/P etiquette guides) is best to notify everyone that the old names/pronouns are now taboo (but currently acceptable when accompanied by event gifts).

Society might discover later that the popular definitions (and expectations/assumptions)
of "male" and "female" have been incorrect for centuries; that more inclusivity of behaviors
would minimize the need for "coming out" (of the historical definitions).

Rod

[Amigoo]

Re: https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/san-f ... r-BB1bzt8d

"San Francisco bans smoking tobacco in apartments, but not marijuana"

"An ordinance passed by the San Francisco Board of Supervisors on Tuesday bans city residents from smoking tobacco inside their apartments but allows them to smoke pot at home... The ordinance reportedly banned the smoking of marijuana in an earlier iteration but was changed amid concerns that the legislation would rob pot smokers of the only place they can legally light up."

This attempt to reduce smoking in apartments may encourage more marijuana smoking (it's not "tobacco").
Is it possible ... that this was the true intent of the revised ordinance.

Rod

[Amigoo]

Re: https://www.investmentwatchblog.com/wha ... appearing/

"When reality is unpleasant, many would rather focus on just about anything else, and these monoliths are definitely an interesting distraction. All appear to have been created by humans using very common technology, so they aren’t signs that the 'aliens' are about to arrive after all."

"A few years ago, the 'creepy clown' phenomenon took America by storm as hordes of copycats were inspired by a few initial news stories."

At least, not as controversial as the QAnon mystery ...
not yet exposed by sufficient erosion of its unconvincing foundation.

Rod

[Amigoo]

Re: https://news.trust.org/item/20201203131328-4n7on

"From robots delivering coffee to office chairs rearranging themselves after a meeting,
a smart city project in China aims to put artificial intelligence in charge"

"The project named Cloud Valley, plans to use sensors and wifi-connected devices
to gather data on everything from weather and pollution to people's eating habits
to automatically meet residents' needs"

Resident: "Thanks, but I'll have black coffee today and no dim sum."
CV robot: "I understand, but you'll have what you need - the usual
... as now promoted by the state."

Rod

[Amigoo]

Re: https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/articl ... st-EU.html

" 'Britain got vaccine first because we are better than you all': Gavin Williamson taunts America and Europe
after UK beats world in race for COVID jab"

We should be thankful that those who are "better" be the first to mass test an mRNA vaccine.

See also: https://www.newscientist.com/article/22 ... 9-vaccine/
"Two shots are needed, and the second shot (about 3 weeks later) is required to attain immunity."

Rod

[Amigoo]

Re: https://www.the-sun.com/news/1902440/pa ... enn-ligon/

"While most might struggle with its meaning, the auction catalogue helpfully points out that it uses 'a medium that expresses
the inability to articulate'. Sotheby’s calls it 'profoundly poetic and compelling' — a 'monument to the Black American struggle
for visibility, recognition and ultimately freedom'."

Believable justification for the impressive price tag, but it's art that (IMO) requires explanation from another human
before the observer knows what they should be seeing, feeling, and thinking ... beside "It's white on white about black".

... and now begs an equally provocative "black on black about white."

Rod

[Amigoo]

Re: https://www.cnn.com/2020/12/02/health/c ... index.html

" 'Everyone will be issued a written card that they can put in their wallet that will tell them what they had
and when their next dose is due,' (Dr. Kelly) Moore said. "Let's do the simple, easy thing first.
Everyone's going to get that.' "

To avoid even more controversy about the COVID-19 coronavirus,
this arbitrary rating was removed from the report card design:

1. Patient is independently performing coronavirus protection competency.
2. Patient is consistently performing coronavirus protection competency.
3. Patient is sometimes performing coronavirus protection competency.
4. Patient is not able to perform coronavirus protection competency.

Rod

[Amigoo]

Re: https://www.foxnews.com/politics/betsy- ... -education

"AOC hits back after Betsy DeVos warns 'free college' push is 'socialist takeover of higher education' "

Political perspective easily marginalized by considering higher education's effective, albeit later, contribution to society.
And from this perspective, should society help reduce the cost ... especially since students now acquire monumental debt
for that higher education?

Rod

[Amigoo]

Re: https://www.debka.com/mivzak/hackers-de ... ance-firm/

"Ransomware attacks everywhere reached a new high during the coronavirus pandemic since when many people began working from home.
U.S. Home Security Dept. is urging victims not to pay up, as the only way to stop the cycle. It is a fact that the hackers are rarely caught."

Ransomware is a greater long-term threat to society than a coronavirus,
requiring computers/software with SIGNIFICANT - even "seasonal" - vaccination,
vaccination more effective than typical "anti-virus".

IMO: Super-powerful processors can now backup systems frequently,
providing a lower-cost return to a previous state, free of viral intrusion.
Apparently, data and system need independent protection.

Rod

[Amigoo]

Re: https://www.cnn.com/2020/12/03/business ... index.html

Intriguing complexity of this "racism" problem ...

This well-intentioned video received 71,000 likes and 50,000 dislikes,
suggesting that in-your-face evidence of racism is not the best way
to persuade "the other side" to correct its behavior.

In other words, such evidence reinforces the wall
before it begins to crumble (if at all).

Rod

[Amigoo]

Re: https://www.reuters.com/article/us-inve ... SKBN28D2UE

" 'Bitcoin is still too volatile to act as a true store of value, though investors hope it will assume that role',
the head of the digital assets arm of Fidelity Investments said on Thursday... 'But aspirationally it is,
and that’s one of the reasons why so many investors are now thinking about this space constructively'."

Apparently, unoccupied by a "true store of value" (from Oxford Languages):
"space - a continuous area or expanse which is free, available, or unoccupied"

Rod

[Amigoo]

Re: https://texasnewstoday.com/plano-based- ... 021/67474/

"A bomb struck Hollywood on Thursday after Dallas-Warner Bros. announced that it would debut its entire 2021 theatrical release slate on HBO Max, a low-performance streaming service in the studio. The news has been hit by a backlash among theater chains that are already struggling to survive in a pandemic."

Few people seem to realize that the theater experience - not just the movie - is why people go to these public venues. There's a psychological preference for viewing a new movie with other people ... and very few people have a significant "theater" in their homes!

Rod

[Amigoo]

Entertainment news, made more entertaining (?) ...

Re: https://www.nydailynews.com/snyde/ny-vi ... story.html

“And people then ask me, ‘Well what about Terry Chen,’ who plays my husband in the film, ‘is he a homosexual?’
And the answer is, ‘I don’t know, and I would never have the temerity to ask someone if they were ..."

'And how do you know what my life is? You’re assuming that I’m completely straight.
Maybe I am, maybe I’m not. And frankly, it's none of your business!' "

... or maybe I was and now I'm not ... or vicey versey.
... or maybe it's on my Bucket List ... while my bucket is still desirable.

And for the teachable moment (from Collins English Dictionary) ...

"temerity - rashness or foolish boldness that results from underrating the dangers
or failing to evaluate the consequences"


Entertainment news, made even more entertaining (?) ...

So I consulted the old guy at the bakery, who explained ...
"A good cookie is just as good as a good cookie."

"Say what?!" I puzzled.

"Old guys are just as happy with a good cookie."

"Say what?!" I puzzled again ...
but left with a fresh pumpkin donut sans icing ...
stopping by the bar where the old bartender explained ...

"A good toddy is just as good as a good toddy."
So I left with my donut sans icing, sans toddy.

Rod

[Amigoo]

Re: https://www.newsweek.com/coronavirus-an ... ns-1552350

"The director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) and member of the White House COVID-19 task force explained: 'I think January is going to be terrible because you're going to have the Thanksgiving surge super-imposed upon the Christmas surge. So it's entirely conceivable that January could be the worst.' "

The good news is that "surge" is a 5-letter word (not 4)
... and "entirely conceivable" has lotsa wiggle room!

"Prepare for the worst and hope for the best." comes to mind.

Rod