World Views

[Amigoo]

Re: https://www.cnn.com/2020/12/26/world/ne ... index.html

"Scientists discover a new species of snake hiding in plain sight"

"The three snake specimens are the only known members of a new snake genus,
called Levitonius, and a new snake species, called Levitonius mirus (honors Alan Leviton,
a researcher at the California Academy of Sciences who spent decades studying snakes)"

Having a snake named after you is indeed a rare honor
for "Homo sapiens": https://biologydictionary.net/taxonomy/

Scientific classification of humans:
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Order: Primates
Family: Hominidae
Genus: Homo
Species: sapiens

Rod

[Amigoo]

Re: https://freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/3918998/posts

"Call Center Scams $14 Million From Americans In Elaborate Scheme"

"The stupidity of some Americans makes you wonder if IQ rates in the country are dropping"

And widespread email phishin' in recent years should be sufficient warning!
Yesterday, I received a warning that my Visa account had been compromised!
What account?! The one that I closed ten years ago? Gimme a break

Decades ago, a Driver's Education teacher advised us
"Drive like the other guy is out to get you!" (stay alert!)
This same advice today can apply to unknown callers:
they may be out to "get you" (or sell you somethin').

Rod

[Amigoo]

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

"The Friends actress, 51, was branded 'out of touch' and 'foolish' for sharing a snap of a wooden ornament
engraved with 'Our First Pandemic 2020' amid the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic."

Actually (regarding such ornaments), I knew that Christmas tree decorations could be whatever
when (thirty years ago) I saw a certain pickle-shaped ornament on a tree, topped with an angel
... in the home of a religious family

The obvious conclusion must be that a Christmas tree is not a religious symbol.
And considering the still-increasing materialism displayed at the base of the tree
by Christmas day, this symbol is now quite distanced from the original celebration
... which is a good thing! since the celebration can now choose another day.

And just now, I received related email advertising:
"This hand painted 2020 ornament featuring toilet paper,
hand sanitizer and people wearing Santa hats and masks"

Obviously, a Christmas tree is not a religious symbol.

Rod

[Amigoo]

Regarding "increasing materialism at the base of a Christmas tree" ...

Motorized play vehicles seem to require exceptional mental maturity
for a young child to comprehend why vehicle should not be driven on a street,
especially without adult supervision (despite vehicle's design and promotion).

Rod

[Amigoo]

Re: https://www.politico.com/news/2020/12/2 ... ion-450529

"How state marijuana legalization became a boon for corruption"

Actually, not that surprising ...
that legalizing marijuana means creating alternate menus
for being frequently served more greenery than others.

Rod

[Amigoo]

Re: https://www.cnn.com/2020/12/27/investin ... index.html

"Bitcoin passed $20,000 for the first time just 11 days ago. Now it's knocking at $30,000's door. Its rapid rise has been remarkable -- or insane, depending on your appetite for risk. But there's some logic to the run-up: Investors are pouring money into bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies during the Covid-19 pandemic as the Federal Reserve sent interest rates near zero (and expects to keep them there for several more years), severely weakening the US dollar."

What's more remarkable about "bitcoin" is that it doesn't exist - it's a computer generated number (per "coin").
This uniqueness plus arbitrary value (determined by competition to own it) makes it a "cryptocurrency".

The value of "bitcoin" is entirely market-determined - not because of intrinsic value like precious metals, jewels, and collectibles. However, paper currency is similar in valuation but at least backed by a government. Once a "bitcoin" becomes government-backed it will have more stability but still remain non-existent (a unique computer-generated number).

"Pyramid scheme" comes to mind (top tier often "makes out like a bandit").
But there are sub-tiers with their own pyramid foundation. "Ride the wave!"
Few articles mention that all bitcoin transactions maintain history ... forever!
(everything you purchase or sell will be known by a computer ... forever)

Rod

[Amigoo]

Re: https://www.nydailynews.com/new-york/ny ... story.html

"Reyes, who pleaded guilty to a narcotics conspiracy involving crack and heroin at Bronx housing projects, saw firsthand that Epstein was trapped between inmates and cruel correctional officers, according to Lopez. They knew how much money he had. They said 'let’s push him around and extort him for money'. They thought they could get his money. (Staff) were treating him like rubbish. They were making him sleep on the floor. They wouldn’t let him sleep on a cot."

Unfortunately, in today's penal systems, punishment before conviction is still acceptable.

Rod

[Amigoo]

Re: https://www.wsj.com/articles/alexa-hypn ... 1609176156

"Alexa, Hypnotize Me"

"Hypnosis is the practice of easing a person into a relaxed, highly focused state that makes them unusually susceptible to suggestion,
typically through verbal cues and mental imagery."

"Hypnosis doesn’t work for everybody. About one-third of the population isn’t susceptible to hypnosis"

Like a colonoscopy, you might want the session video for later review.
What happens while you're "susceptible to suggestion" is an important medical record.

Rod

[Amigoo]

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

"Canadian man, 24, has his own leg 'taxidermied' and received it just in time for Christmas
months after he was struck by a hit-and-run driver and left to die"

Who knew Bones have a song:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WdCRrcfan44

Rod

[Amigoo]

Re: https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa- ... SKBN2921R8

"U.S. to allow small drones to fly over people and at night"

"Walmart Inc said in September it would run a pilot project for delivery of grocery and household products through automated drones
but acknowledged 'it will be some time before we see millions of packages delivered via drone.' "

A time to behold, when millions of drones are buzzin' overhead
... and begs the question why people are confined to sidewalks
and their vehicles to real streets for coordinated movement

Best guess: Air lanes will need to be created (and enforced)
for the greater portion of so many drone deliveries ... not to mention
need to upgrade home insurance policies for things that cometh down

Consider: A tube of lipstick hitting a car windshield on a freeway
can crack the windshield, but a heavier package would do what?

Rod

[Amigoo]

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

"A photographic history of men in love"

I was ready to opine that men hugging and kissing are not necessarily "men in love",
but when one adult male is sitting on another male's lap (and the sittee is not Santa) ...
I would have to at least surmise that they were a bit friendlier than usual.

Rod

[Amigoo]

Re: https://www.foxnews.com/us/university-r ... goes-viral

"University 'rushed to judgment' in pressuring student withdrawal after slur clip goes viral, attorney says"

Apparently, the University wanted to immediately distance itself from the controversy
by skipping any meaningful investigation and complementary deliberation.

Rod

[Amigoo]

Re: https://www.foxnews.com/food-drink/flor ... snake-eggs

"Florida python hunter whips up dinner, dessert, even Christmas cookies with snake eggs, meat - 'really good when you cook it right' "

"Unfortunately, the Burmese python’s status as an apex predator in the mercury-rich Everglades means it accumulates
massive amounts of the metal in its body. And the bigger the snake, the more mercury it likely contains"

See also: https://www.webmd.com/diet/mercury-in-fish#1
(discusses how much mercury is safe to eat)

Rod

[Amigoo]

Re: https://www.vice.com/en/article/k7a3mm/ ... -monologue

"Evidence suggests that there are real benefits of talking to yourself in the third person—in your head, not out loud."

"The official term for talking in the third person about yourself is illeism. Many people have an internal monologue that crops up,
when we’re figuring out what to do, reflecting on the past, or guiding ourselves through day-to-day situations, but we frequently
use the pronouns I, me, mine, and my."

Interesting concept! ... like getting in touch with your inner others.

So, instead of saying "I've got a good mind to ..."
you say "They have a good mind to ...".

And this hints who "they" are in "They say ..."

Rod (et al.)

[Amigoo]

Re: https://www.breitbart.com/tech/2020/12/ ... ng-people/

"Harvard Panel Claims 'Not All Who Give Birth' Are Women, Uses Term 'Birthing People' "

Makes sense! ... since "women" are being redefined.

But going back to the beginning ...
what are the people called who contribute egg and sperm?
Birthing Provokee and Birthing Provoker?

Makes for entertaining conversation in 2021 ...
Mother to son on first date: "Be gentle and don't provoke her!"

Rod

[Amigoo]

Re: https://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/arti ... sense.html

"Psychic who predicted Covid insists anyone can predict the future - and it starts with meditating for just 15 minutes a day"

"We all have this natural intuition. It's just about fine-tuning it, and letting it flourish"

The daily 15 minutes should be profitable ...
but contacting your inner psychic may take effort.
Maintain a notebook to confirm progress.

Rod

[Amigoo]

Re: https://www.yahoo.com/news/snake-massag ... 13926.html

"Not many would associate snakes with relaxation. But a spa in Cairo is hoping that is about to change by introducing a new snake massage. Live snakes slither on the backs and faces of customers looking for pain relief. First oil is rubbed on a clients' back and then they use a combination of Pythons or around 28 different types of non-venomous snakes during the thirty-minute session."

Little pythons since a bigger one would massage the daylight out of you
And it's best that the number of snakes be checked after the massage
in case one slithers into your boots, clothing, or handbag.

Rod

[Sandy]

Oh MY! Now I have heard everything...snake massage? Now don't get me wrong... I like snakes... really have no problem with them but I cannot imagine relaxing during such a massage. No I suspect the opposite would happen and then too I would also need therapy as well.

Thanks for that, Rod...
xxSandy

[Amigoo]

Re: https://www.studyfinds.org/americans-do ... recording/

"The report by Safety.com finds 66.7 percent of U.S. residents over 18 wouldn’t have a problem
finding out a home gadget is listening in on what’s going on inside their home."

As for the 33.3, you might be exposing more than you intend when interacting with less cautious people.

Rod

[Amigoo]

About "tiny houses" ...

Re: https://www.yahoo.com/news/woman-parked ... 11263.html

"tiny-house owners across the country have been forced out of their living situations or have struggled to find a place to park their tiny houses legally. In some cases, owners choose to live under the radar - a lifestyle that comes with considerable stress. In the eyes of most local governments, tiny houses are considered recreational vehicles - and, legally, you are not allowed to live in an RV full time."

"In the end, O'Brien had to move out of the tiny house and left it standing empty on her parents' property."


A "standard mobile home" (some are small but still larger than a "tiny house") seems the best option,
considering such widespread zoning resistance

Re: https://www.mobilehomeuniversity.com/ar ... k-industry

"As Americans change to a new mindset of 'less is more', it increases demand for the smallest form of detached housing, which is our product type. Although the tiny homes shown on TV are 'park models' that are not HUD code housing, most Americans don’t want to sleep in a tiny loft or use a bathroom that is smaller than the backseat of a car, and will naturally gravitate into standard mobile home units, which, while still tiny, are about twice the size of the average tiny home."

Bottom line: Find a legal place for your "tiny house" before purchasing it.

Rod

[Amigoo]

Re: https://www.theverge.com/tldr/2020/12/2 ... cing-video

"robots take over the dance floor", dancing to "Do you love me?"

Rod

[Amigoo]

Re: https://newyork.cbslocal.com/2020/12/30 ... k-robbery/

"Man Using Cane Tries To Rob Bank then Flees in Wheelchair"

Maybe a new Tesla prototype with rocket power!

Rod

[Amigoo]

Re: https://www.cnn.com/2020/12/30/opinions ... index.html

"a majority of its Senate voted yes on a bill to legalize abortion up to 14 weeks into a pregnancy -- liberalization of the current law,
which generally prohibits the procedure, and only allows exceptions for rape and the pregnant woman's health."

Seems like a giant step backward, considering that pregnancy would be known sooner,
but might be related to brain development that rapidly increases after the first trimester.

Rod

[Amigoo]

Re: https://nypost.com/2020/12/30/nurse-sus ... d-patient/

"The two men were later administered coronavirus tests.
The patient was found to still be positive while the nurse tested negative"

With this kind of romping, either the nurse has a super immune system
or the virus is still competing with other pathogens for residence.

Rod

[Amigoo]

Re: https://dnyuz.com/2021/01/01/busy-phili ... ie-is-gay/

"Philipps, 41, gave insight into Birdie’s journey on Thursday’s episode of her 'Busy Philipps Is Doing Her Best' podcast
and shared that 12-year-old Birdie prefers they/them pronouns."

"Bird was like, ‘I don’t give a f -- k. You can talk about how I’m gay and out. You can talk about my pronouns.
That would be cool with me. That’s great.' "

In this family, "pretty birdie" seems best reserved for a parakeet (that hasn't leaned letters 'u' and 'c').

See also: https://www.kaytee.com/learn-care/pet-b ... and-sounds

"Regurgitating food is a sign of affection. Birds will do this with each other, their owner, or a favorite toy as a way of showing their love.
Try not to encourage your bird to regurgitate for you, as it may cause unwanted breeding behaviors."

So, how do you encourage your bird to regurgitate?! Serve her (them) one of your seedy crackers?

Rod