The Off Topic Topic

[mongers]

This week I'm getting a weirdly large amount of spam from shit I signed up for years ago and haven't touched since - Estate agents, some websites I used years before that in Japan, etc... .
Anyone else?

Nope, just your usual posts.

[Josquius]

This week I'm getting a weirdly large amount of spam from shit I signed up for years ago and haven't touched since - Estate agents, some websites I used years before that in Japan, etc... .
Anyone else?

Nope, just your usual posts.

So near to Christmas and you make a move for the naughty list

[Tamas]

Semi random pet peeve of the day: https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2022/dec/23/christmas-religious-christian-humanist

Even if I agree with the basic premise, I would dare this lady or anyone really to be using the same aggressive language about the religious aspects of Ramadan or Divali and get away with it.

[Sheilbh]

I disagree with the basic premise

Honestly that piece feels a little bit like someone who expected a decline in Christian belief to lead to a rise in Humanism, or atheism or some other set of beliefs that is defined against a (now previously) dominant religion - in our case, Christianity. Instead the decline of Christianity is largely because of a rise in indifference/bemusement at any religion - it's not the not religious who are growing, not the atheist, Humanist, secularist camp.

I also enjoyed all the moral panic from far right types like Douglas Murray about the decline of Christianity being linked to immigration when the opposite is true. It's being propped up by immigration It's not for nothing that in terms of religious attendance, London is by far the most devout part of the country or that Londoners are more socially conservative on issues like gay rights than the rest of the country.

Edit: Also I think it's a telling indicator that what's replacing Christianity is basically ignorance and indifference that you have a Tory MP attacking bishops "for using the pulpit to preach from"

On my semi-random pet peeves - I'm including "culture war" in the list of phrases Brits have taken from the American friends and are now just using randomly. I saw that the Telegraph did a piece on the "culture war" dividing gardeners: whether or not to kill slugs

[Razgovory]

Semi random pet peeve of the day: https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2022/dec/23/christmas-religious-christian-humanist

Even if I agree with the basic premise, I would date this lady or anyone really to be using the same aggressive language about the religious aspects of Ramadan or Divali and get away with it.

You shouldn't be dating her.  You're married.

[Tamas]

Semi random pet peeve of the day: https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2022/dec/23/christmas-religious-christian-humanist

Even if I agree with the basic premise, I would date this lady or anyone really to be using the same aggressive language about the religious aspects of Ramadan or Divali and get away with it.

You shouldn't be dating her.  You're married.

Lol bloody autocorrect

[mongers]

The bing search page today has a nice night photo of Gloucester cathedral's cloisters as the background image.

I'm minded to say Gloucester cathedral is one of the very best UK cathedrals, perhaps my favourite and it's only 10 minutes walk from the train station, so if you're every passing through there, get off, take a half-hour to look around it and catch the next train.

[garbon]

Semi random pet peeve of the day: https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2022/dec/23/christmas-religious-christian-humanist

Even if I agree with the basic premise, I would date this lady or anyone really to be using the same aggressive language about the religious aspects of Ramadan or Divali and get away with it.

You shouldn't be dating her.  You're married.

Hey, you don't know what sort of arrangement they have.

[mongers]

Semi random pet peeve of the day: https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2022/dec/23/christmas-religious-christian-humanist

Even if I agree with the basic premise, I would date this lady or anyone really to be using the same aggressive language about the religious aspects of Ramadan or Divali and get away with it.

You shouldn't be dating her.  You're married.

Hey, you don't know what sort of arrangement they have.

I think being married to Polly Tonybee* is one of the outer rings of hell punishments.


* not a misogynist comment, just being married to anyone That progressive would be very wearing.

[Sheilbh]

I still think it's Sir Simon Jenkins

[Legbiter]

Semi random pet peeve of the day: https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2022/dec/23/christmas-religious-christian-humanist

Even if I agree with the basic premise, I would dare this lady or anyone really to be using the same aggressive language about the religious aspects of Ramadan or Divali and get away with it.

...the iconography of star, stable, manger, kings and shepherds to greet a new baby is a universal emblem of humanity.

   

Congratulations Polly. I clicked.

[Josquius]

Semi random pet peeve of the day: https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2022/dec/23/christmas-religious-christian-humanist

Even if I agree with the basic premise, I would dare this lady or anyone really to be using the same aggressive language about the religious aspects of Ramadan or Divali and get away with it.

If your background is of a certain religion you are allowed to shit on it.
If you're alien to that faith then you better have something bloody good or the racist bells are ringing.

Militant athiests are eye roll worthy for different reasons of course.

But bring back yule. It's sad how the wacky historic stuff of British Christmas has been lost whilst many other euros keep it.

[Sheilbh]

The Reformation

[Admiral Yi]

Question for DGuller and any other poker players.

One of the maxims I grew up with is that a player is not obligated to show his hole cards unless he's called, in order to preserve his ability to bluff in the future.  The other players have to pay to seem them.

It strikes me that televised poker removes this advantage, since hole cards are shown on camera.  Would this/does this change the dynamics of bluffing?

[Syt]

Didn't know what L Ron Hubbard looks like, but now I'm disappointed that there'll probably never be a biopic (ideally in the style of Death of Stalin) with Michael McKean in the lead.