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Post by Kapitan on Dec 4, 2019 15:15:14 GMT
Yes, not to turn this into a grumpy old man thread, but there is a certain amount of insanity among some overly zealous critics out there of even the concept of fiction. Earlier this year I heard about a Young Adult novel that was the subject of massive criticism even before it was released because the female Asian-American author wrote about a fictional universe in which slavery existed, but (being an Asian-American) could not possibly understand the African-American experience of slavery. I can’t begin to catalog the inanities with that criticism. OK, yes I can: 1) It was a fictional novel; 2) There were no African-Americans, Americans, or even earthlings in that universe, so whatever happened here is moot; 3) modern African-Americans can’t possibly understand the African-American experience of slavery, either; and 4) if we could only write about real-life experiences, there would be no fiction anyway (and every novel would have precisely one character, the author). It would be like “canceling” J.R.R. Tolkien because he couldn’t understand my experience in Minneapolis as he wrote about Elves of Rivendell in Middle Earth in Lord of the Rings. And now everyone can feel free to come back onto my lawn. No more grouchiness from me today.
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Post by kds on Dec 4, 2019 16:45:43 GMT
A couple Christmases ago, some young lady posted a video about how the 1983 movie A Christmas Story should not be viewed in modern times. She prattled on about all sorts of reasons why the movie isn't "woke" and that it promotes the materialism of Christmas, blah blah blah. (I mean, come on, the protagonist is a 10 year old boy).
I honestly wonder if that video was posted just to get a reaction, but knowing how silly we've gotten as a culture, it wouldn't shock me if she believed what she was saying.
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Post by Kapitan on Dec 4, 2019 17:21:35 GMT
Probably the greatest Christmas movie ever, plus absolutely the most creative “swearing” of all time.
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Post by kds on Dec 4, 2019 17:40:45 GMT
Probably the greatest Christmas movie ever, plus absolutely the most creative “swearing” of all time. Most people in your and my age group will say the same (or at least put it on our Top 3), so I suspect little Ms. Woke was trying to get some clicks and reactions from people like us. I wasted five minutes of my life watching her video, so I guess I fell for it.
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Post by Kapitan on Dec 8, 2019 2:36:06 GMT
Unexpected start to my weekend: my dad had some medical issues beginning with an ambulance ride to a nearby (small-city) hospital followed by a helicopter ride to Rochester Mayo. So yesterday I hastily drove down to the former, then took my mom to the latter. And it was a night and day of the sorts of things people do in ICU while waiting to figure out what's going on.
While there I had a few conversations and heard a few stories of others in waiting rooms. There's something oddly beautiful about those situations. People are at their worst in a way, obviously facing awful situations. But yet they're often really kind and generous to one another. I spoke with a woman who had been more or less camping out for more than two weeks in the ICU waiting room as her husband failed to improve.
Things were better for us: my dad seems stabilized and headed home tomorrow, with just the same sorts of adjustments to this or that that a person expects for someone his age every now and again, a not-quite-calming but thankfully not (in the end) terrifying situation. I felt OK coming home early this evening.
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Post by kds on Dec 8, 2019 2:56:07 GMT
Glad to hear things worked out.
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Post by Sheriff John Stone on Dec 8, 2019 13:10:43 GMT
Yes, wishing your Dad a speeding recovery and good health.
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Post by jk on Dec 8, 2019 13:58:31 GMT
I wish your father (and your mother and you) all the best, Cap'n.
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Post by Kapitan on Dec 8, 2019 16:11:32 GMT
Thanks everyone. It was pretty stressful, and unfortunately just because that's how life progresses, it will be again. The resolution is mixed: among the milder of possibilities he faced, but not entirely identified or "cured." But they ruled out some of the worst possibilities, which is of course comforting for all. So he should be headed home today (hopefully in advance of our forecasted snowstorm!) and we'll all just be hoping for no reoccurrences.
As someone approaching 80, he's had a series of health issues over the years and is treated and medicated in various ways, so part of the drill is just going to be readjusting this and that, balancing that and this, and weighing one consequences against another. In other words, pretty normal parts of that stage of life.
These sorts of things are always good reminders to appreciate what we have. Thanks again for the kind sentiments.
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bellbottoms
Pacific Coast Highway
Posts: 727
Likes: 201
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Post by bellbottoms on Dec 9, 2019 12:27:36 GMT
Glad to hear your Dad is stable and was able to go home, Kap.
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bellbottoms
Pacific Coast Highway
Posts: 727
Likes: 201
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Post by bellbottoms on Dec 11, 2019 14:13:37 GMT
This is me just venting about the fact that things are too busy and crowded, I feel like I can’t catch my breath. And it won’t be slowing down any time soon. Two weeks to Christmas, and it’s going to be a hectic (albeit fun) one instead of a relaxing one. I never thought I’d be looking forward to January.
And wouldn’t you know it, all of this work and life busy-ness is getting in the way of message boarding, too.
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Post by kds on Dec 11, 2019 17:32:40 GMT
This is me just venting about the fact that things are too busy and crowded, I feel like I can’t catch my breath. And it won’t be slowing down any time soon. Two weeks to Christmas, and it’s going to be a hectic (albeit fun) one instead of a relaxing one. I never thought I’d be looking forward to January. And wouldn’t you know it, all of this work and life busy-ness is getting in the way of message boarding, too. I had a bit of a moment yesterday. Yesterday evening, like a brick to the head, it hit me that Christmas was just over two weeks away. I've still got gifts to buy, and wrap. Still got things to do. We've hardly watched any of our beloved Christmas specials, and zero movies. The season goes by way way too fast. I'm actually starting to see why people start decorating and embracing the season right after Halloween.
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Post by Sheriff John Stone on Dec 13, 2019 13:42:36 GMT
Last summer somebody gave me a bird bath as a gift. After experimenting with placing it in different spots, I placed it in the front yard next to the Kwanzan cherry tree. Unfortunately it was also next to a large limestone rock. Well, I came home from work yesterday, and apparently an animal tipped over the top of the bird bath, it hit the large rock, and shattered in five pieces. I actually contacted my landscaping buddy recently to come by and put some special cement on the bird bath, securing the top to the base.
Does anybody cover their various lawn ornaments or put them away for the winter months?
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bellbottoms
Pacific Coast Highway
Posts: 727
Likes: 201
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Post by bellbottoms on Dec 13, 2019 13:56:27 GMT
That's a drag, Sheriff! Is there any chance of repairing it? Maybe your landscaping buddy knows a thing or two about fixing bird baths.
We haven’t got any lawn ornaments… just a young tree, and a shrub that we’ve named Oscar the Grouch because it collects street litter and it’s a daily struggle to keep it (him?) clean.
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Post by Kapitan on Dec 13, 2019 14:03:22 GMT
We're on the minimalist side here as well: just a hummingbird feeder and some bamboo wind chimes, both of which get put away for winter. Or will, as soon as I get my lazy butt out to bring them in. Probably should have done that already, like, a month ago.
Sorry to hear about the tragic demise of your bird bath! I think that's a big part of why I don't want to go to much trouble with such things: I'm always afraid they'll be ruined (or more likely, I'll ruin them somehow).
bellbottoms, I know what you mean about litter-collectors. The shrubs in the front yard here are similar. We're on a relatively busy city street, one of those we see every four or six blocks in Minneapolis with little commercial corners scattered among residential areas. So it's a relatively high-traffic sidewalk. Well, sadly, those shrubs out front seem to find plastic bags from the convenience store down the street, candy wrappers, napkins, and such. Seems like every day there's a fresh haul...
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